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THE AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT
THE
AMPLIFIED
NEW
TESTAMENT
ZONDERVAN PUBLISHING HOUSE
s, Michigan
© The Lockman Foundation—1958
A Corporation not for profit
Sponsor of
AMPLIFIED ‘TRANSLATIONS
La Habra, California
“All Scripture is God-breathed”,
2 Tim. 3:16
All rights in this book are reserved. No part may be repro
duced in any manner without permission in writing from
Tus LockMaAN FouNDATION, except brief quotations used
in connection with a review in a magazipe or newspaper.
Printed in the United States of America.
EIGHTEENTH EDITION
PREFACE
Those responsible for the publication of this work, after
twelve thousand hours of diligent research and prayer-
ful study, have peaceful confidence that the merits of
the Amplified New Testament are sufficient justification
for its existence. The richness and clarity in the transla-
tion from the Greek of multi-shaded meanings are des-
tined to fascinate and intrigue the hearts and minds of
readers. At the same time, it will prove infinitely more;
it will become beneficially enlightening and helpfully
instructive. It is nonetheless the glorious Bread of God,
so indispensable to the abundant life and blissful hope of
men, though it be served in a pleasantly different way.
The Truth is here — authoritative, authentic and ac-
curate, but in a new garb.
God's ways are past finding out, and never more so
than in His inimitable manner of raising up the right
servant at the right time for a particular purpose.
Serving as Research Secretary, Frances E. Siewert, B. Lit.,
B. D., M. A., D. Lit., Gwith training far beyond the
suggestion of these listed degrees), has spent the major
portion of a long life in humble, thorough preparation
for such hallowed endeavor as this represents, memoriz-
ing chapter after chapter of the Greek text -- translating,
collating and correlating in an amazing display of ability
and accomplishment.
The Lockman Foundation, a California corporation,
not for profit, established for the express and stated pur-
pose of promoting Christian evangelism, education and
benevolence, came into the picture in a remarkable and
needful manner. The leaders of this Christian organiza-
tion, both in the discovery of the preliminary work of
this translation and in the subsequent developments,
have recorded incidents again and again which bear the
undeniable earmarks of supernatural direction. ‘These
have unfolded with the exactness and amazing wonder
of the unfolding petals of a beautiful rose, and with
similar order and timing. All of this contributed weighty
impetus to the desire and determination to complete the
undertaking, making possible the publication of the
Amplified New Testament for the glory of God and the
good of man.
An Editorial Committee gave dedicated and diligent
attention to the manuscript. The edited and proofed
translation was then submitted to three qualified Greek
consultants.
Twenty-seven translations and versions of the New
Testament in whole or in part were assiduously examined
and the greatest lexicographers of all times continually
consulted. The Greek text of Westcott and Hort was
pursued with meticulous care. A fourfold aim for this
translation has been kept in view:
1. That it should be true to the original Greek.
2. That it should be grammatically correct.
3. That it should be understandable to the
masses.
4, That it should give the Lord Jesus Christ
His proper place, the place which the Word
gives Him.
It is statedly God’s will that all men shall “come unto
the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). It is equally
emphasized that, “Knowledge is easy unto [esteemed by]
him that understandeth” (Prov. 14:6).
To this end, the Author of divine Truth, amid chang-
ing languages and discovered dialects, permits His
changeless Word to become accommodated to the com-
prehension and appreciation of finite minds in every era.
Is it not prophesied that “knowledge [of the Lord] shall
be increased” (Dan. 12:4)? Is not such an increase
facilitated by clarification of the divine Precepts?
It is the hope and prayer of all who have had part in
this translation’s development and publication that it may
be welcome everywhere. It is the Word of our blessed
Lord, the Word of divine wisdom and infinite love, the
Word of mercy and peace, the Word of everlasting life.
—Editorial Committee
INTRODUCTION
There never has been, nor can be, an entirely adequate
translation of the New Testament from the original
Greek. No matter how perfectly done the work of the
translators may be, the difhculties involved in expressing
the ideas bound up in one Greek word or phrase in an
equivalent English word or phrase are often insurmount-
able. In some cases the translator finds himself con-
fronted with a Greek term that combines the thought of
a number of English words, each of which conveys some
shade of meaning not to be found in the others. His
only choice is to select the most fitting of these expres-
sions and omit the others.
In this way the reader is deprived of much that would
clarify the meaning of the text if he only knew it, and
it often leaves him with only a vague understanding of
what would otherwise be delightfully clear. The Ampli-
fied New Testament is designed to overcome much of
this existing defciency by furnishing in one volume,
and as the Greek text legitimately permits, multiple ex-
pressions for a richer, fuller and more revealing appreci-
ation of the divine message. It is not a substitute for
other translations. It is intended to supplement them,
authentically, concisely and in convenient form.
To illustrate, let us take the sentcnce, “Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” CActs 16:31).
What does the word “believe” mean? It is extremely
important, for multitudes are pinning their hope of
heaven upon it. Yet that word long since ceased to
convey, if it ever did, the sense of the original.
Webster’s long definition of “believe” includes such
synonymous expressions as, “to place credence ... . apart
from personal knowledge; to expect or hope... . to be
more or less firmly persuaded of the truth of anything,
to think or suppose.” In this sense, most people believe
in Christ — that He lived; that He was a perfect man
Who sincerely believed Himself to be the Son of God,
and that He died on the cross hoping to save sinners.
But this is by no means the meaning of the Greek word
which twenty-two New Testament versions out of
twenty-four consulted render “believe”. Yet they do so
because there is no single better word in the English.
The Greek word is “pisteuo,” and means, “To adhere
to, cleave to; to trust, to have faith in; to rely on” —
which summed up in, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved,” means an absolute personal re-
_liance upon the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour.
As negligible as only one small misconceived idea
may seem, the sum of dozens or hundreds of such ob-
scurities may become appallingly important, and spell
the difference between faith and unbelief. For it is
difficult to realize how bewildering such unexplained
terms can sometimes become, unless one has had the
perplexing experience himself. It is the purpose of
this method of translation to reduce this particular dif_-
culty to a minimum by including in the text all the as-
sociated words necessary to convey the sense of the
original thought.
As a basis we have used the original New Testament
Greek text edited by outstanding authorities, leaving it
only where clarity has demanded it, but amplifying the
key words, as they may individually require to get their
full equivalent in English. This, of course, of necessity
prevents the resulting translation from being exact or
literal in form. Rather, our attempt has been to bring
out each word’s original, often hidden meaning in all the
fullness that its particular setting calls for, in the deep
conviction that the whole of the Word of God was orig-
inally verbally inspired and infallible.
At the same time we have constantly consulted, and
sometimes borrowed from the many versions in our
possession, together of course with various Greek lexicons
and word studies.
The Greek language has no “thee”, “thou” and “thine”
reverential distinctions from the singular words “you”
and “your”, so we have not used these forms. Jesus used
the same pronouns in addressing the Father that He did
in speaking to a disciple, to Pilate or even to a demon.
We have capitalized the primary words referring to
Christ, because of what He is, not what the speakers
may have thought Him to be. Also the Greek has no
quotation marks, and to use them must in some cases
require an arbitrary decision as to who is speaking and
where his speech ends. So we have omitted them.
One does not expect literary beauty and finesse in a
work which must give the plain, unchanged words of
various authorities without embellishment. The New
Testament was written largely in the common Greek
dialect of the day — the language of the fisherman, of the
tax collector and of the tentmaker. Jesus Christ was
greeted first by lowly shepherds who found Him in a
manger. But as it was not the manger that mattered,
neither is it the literary housing of God’s Word, but the
glorious, matchless beauty of what it contains that should
and will fascinate and captivate and inspire us, if we will
permit it.
FES,
Explanation of Arbitrary Punctuation Marks, etc.
PARENTHESES ( ) and Dasues — —: signify additional
phases of meaning included in the original word,
phrase or clause, or varying texts. However, names
of Deity may be set off only with commas.
Brackets [ ]: contain justified clarifying words or
comments, whether implied or not, which are not
actually expressed in the immediate original text.
However, when the identification of a person or
thing represented by a pronoun is certain, the noun
may be substituted for the pronoun without brackets.
ITaLics: point out certain familiar passages now recog-
nized as not adequately supported by the original
manuscripts, or italics may be substituted for
brackets. Also “and,” “or” and other connectives
in italics indicate that the portions so connected are
to be found in the same original word or expression.
CapiraLs: are used in names and personal pronouns
referring to Deity, but sparingly elsewhere.
REFERENCES: are intended to cover any part of the
preceding verse to which they apply.
SYNONYMs: are limited to what the text seems to warrant,
both as to number and wording.
CONTENTS
The Gospel According to Matthew - + -
The Gospel According to Mark - - - -
The Gospel According to Luke - - - -
The Gospel According to John - 2 = -
The Acts of the Apostles - - - τ - -
The Epistle of Paul to the Romans - -
The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians
The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians
The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians
The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians -
The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians
The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians - - -
The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians
The Second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians
The First Epistle of Paul to Timothy -ἪἮ -
The Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy - -
The Epistle of Paul to Titus - - - - -
The Epistle of Paul to Philemon - - - -
The Epistle to the Hebrews - - - - -
The Epistle of James - - - + + τ Ὁ
The First Epistle of Peter - - - + τὸν
The Second Epistle of Peter - - τ =| -
The First Epistle of John - - - + = -
The Second Epistle of John - - - =| -
The Third Epistle of John - - - - -
The Epistle of Jude - - + - - τς
The Revelation of Jesus.Christ to John - -
600
658
695
717
738
753
767
779
786
801
812
819
822
867
881
897
906
923
925
927
931
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING
TO
MATTHEW
CHAPTER 1
HE book of the ancestry (genealogy) of Jesus
Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed, the son Cdes-
cendant) of David, the son Cdescendant) of Abraham.
(Ps. 132:11; Is. 11:1.]
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father
of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3. Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother
was Tamar; Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the
father of Aram,
4 Aram the father of Aminadab, Aminadab the
father of Nashon, Nashon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was
Rahab; Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
6 Jesse the father of King David, King David the
father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of
Uriah; [Ruth 4:18-22; I Chron. 2:13-15.]
7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the
father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,
8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the
father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah,
9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of
Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the
father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,
11] And Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and
his brothers, about the time of the removal (deportation)
to Babylon. [Il Kin. 24:14; I Chron. 3:15,16.]
1
2 MATTHEW 1
12 After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the
father of Shealtiel CSalathiel), Shealtiel the father of
Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father
of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Sadoc, Sadoc the father of
Achim, Achim the father of Elihud,
15 Elihud the father of Eliazar, Eliazar the father of
Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary
of whom was born Jesus Who is called the Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are
fourteen, from David to the Babylonian Exile Cdeporta-
tion) fourteen, from the Babylonian Exile to the Christ
fourteen generations.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place under
these circumstances: When His mother Mary had been
promised in marriage to Joseph, before they came to-
gether she was found to be pregnant [through the
power] of the Holy Spirit.
19 And her [promised] husband Joseph, being a
just and upright man and not willing to expose her
publicly and shame and disgrace her, decided to repudi-
ate and dismiss (divorce) her quietly and secretly.
20 But as he was thinking this over, behold, an angel
of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph,
descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary [as]
your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of (from,
out of) the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name
MATTHEW 2 3
Jesus [in Hebrew means Savior], for He will save His
people from their sins [that is, prevent their *failing and
missing the true end and scope of life, which is God].
22 All this took place that it might be fulfilled which
the Lord had spoken through the prophet,
23 Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and
give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Em-
manuel, which when translated means, God with us.
Is. 7:14.
24 ‘Then Joseph being aroused from his sleep, did
as the angel of the Lord had commanded him; he took
{her to his side as} his wife,
25 But he had no union with her as her husband
until she had borne her first-born Son, and he called His
name Jesus.
CHAPTER 2
OW when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea
in the days of Herod the king, behoid, wise men
[astrologers] from the East came to Jerusalem, asking,
2 Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews?
For we have seen His star in the East at its rising, and
have come to worship Him. [Jer. 23:5; Zech. 9:9; Num.
24:17.
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was disturbed
and troubled, and the whole of Jerusalem with him;
4 So he called together all the chief priests and
learned men (scribes) of the people, and ‘anxiously asked
them where the Christ was to be born.
« Vincent's “Word Studies in the New Testament.”
b Alternate reading.
© Williams’ ‘‘The New Testament in the Language of the People.”
4 MATTHEW 2
5 They replied to him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for
so it is written by the prophet:
6 And you Bethlehen, in the land of Judah, you are
not in any way least or insignificant among the ‘chief
cities of Judah; for from you shall come a Ruler (4Leader)
Who will govern and *shepherd My people Israel. [Mic.
5:2.]
7 Then Herod sent for the wise men [astrologers]
secretly, and *accurately to the last point ascertained from
them the time of the appearing of the star — that is, *how
long the star had made itself visible since its rising in the
East.
8 ‘Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and
search out the Child carefully and diligently, and when
you have found ‘Him bring me word, that I too may
come and worship Him.
9 When they had listened to the king they went
their way, and lo, the star which had been seen in the
East “in its rising went before them, until it came and
stood over the place where the young Child was.
10 When they saw the star, they were thrilled with
ecstatic joy.
11 And going into the house they saw the Child
with Mary His mother, and they fell down and wor-
shipped Him. Then opening their treasure bags, they
presented to Him gifts, gold and frankincense and
myrth.
12 And ‘receiving an answer to their asking, they
‘Thayer's “Greek-English Lexicon of the New ‘Testament-CGomm,”
sheoulten and Milligan’s ‘“The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament.”
fCapitalized because of what He is, not what the speaker may have
thought Fle was. ®Alternate reading.
MATTHEW 2 5
were divinely instructed and warned in a dream not to
go back to Herod; so they departed to their own country
by a different way.
13. Now after they had gone, behold, an angel of
the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Get
up! [&Tenderly] take unto you the young Child and His
mother and Hee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell
vou [otherwise]; for Herod intends to search for the
Child in order to destroy Him.
14 And having risen, he took the Child and His
mother by night and withdrew to Egypt,
15 And remained there until Herod’s death. ‘This
was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet,
Out of Egypt have I called My Son. [Hos. 11:1.]
16 Then Herod, when he realized that he had been
misled by the wise men, was furiously enraged, and he
sent and put to death all the male children in Bethlehem
and in all that territory who were two years old or under,
reckoning according to the date which he had investi-
gated diligently avd learned exactly from the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the pro-
phet Jeremiah:
18 A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud
lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused
to be comforted, because they were no more. [Jer.
31215;
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the
Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,
@\WVilliams.
6 MATTHEW 3
20 Rise, [&tenderly] take unto you the Child and His
mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who
sought the Child’s life are dead.
21 ‘Then he awoke and arose and [£tenderly] took the
Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But because he heard that Archelaus was ruling
over Judea in the place of his father Herod, he was
afraid to go there; and being divinely warned in a dream
he withdrew to the region of Galilee.
23 He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth,
so that what was spoken through the prophets might be
Fulfilled, He shall be called a Nazarene (meaning
Branch, Separated One). [Is. 11:1.]
CHAPTER 3
N those days there appeared John the Baptist, preach-
ing in the wilderness Cdesert)) of Judea, and saying,
2 Repent —that is, *think differently; change your
mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct —
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 This is he who was mentioned by the prophet
Isaiah when he said, The voice of one crying in the
wilderness — shouting in the desert: Prepare the road for
the Lord; make His highways straight (level, >direct).
[ἰ5. 40:3.]
4 This John’s garments were made of camel’s hair,
and he wore a leather girdle about his waist, and his
food was locusts and wild honey. [II Kin. 1:8; Zech.
13:4; Lev. 11:22.]
*Vincent.
bAbbott-Smith’s ‘Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.”
gWilliams,
MATTHEW 3 7
5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the country
round about the Jordan went out to him,
6 And they were baptized in the Jordan by him,
confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sad-
ducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood
of vipers, who warned you to flee and escape from the
wrath and indignation [of God against disobedience, ]
that is coming?
8 Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance
—let your lives prove your change of heart;
9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, We have
Abraham for our forefather; for I tell you God is able
to raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones!
10 And already the ax is lying at the root of the
trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit
is cut down and thrown into the fre.
11 I indeed baptize you in Cwith) water cbecause
of repentance — that is, because of vour 4changing vour
minds for the better, heartily amending your ways with
abhorrence of your past sins; but He Who is coming after
me is mightier than 1, Whose sandals 1 am not worthy
or fit to take off or carry; He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and with fre.
12 His winnowing fan (shovel, fork) is in His hand,
and He will thoroughly clear out and clean His thresh-
ing floor, and gather and store His wheat in His barn;
b‘En”’, the preposition used here, is translated both ‘in’ and “with” in
the Greek lexicons and concordances generally. The Authorized Version
gives preference to ‘‘with”’, putting ‘in’ in the margin; the American
"Revised" Version gives preference to “in”, putting ‘“‘with’’ in the margin;
the many modern versions choose one or the other about equally.
pens and Mantey’s ‘‘Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament.”
layer.
8 MATTHEW 4
but the chaff He will burn up with fire that cannot be
put out.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to
John to be baptized by him.
14 But John ‘protested strenuously, having in mind
to prevent Him, saying, It is I who have need to be
baptized by You, and do You come to me?
15 But Jesus replied to him, ‘Permit it just now, for
this is the fitting way for [both of] us to fulfill all
righteousness — that is, to ‘perform completely whatever
is right.
16 And when Jesus was baptized, He went up at
once out of the water, and behold, the heavens were
opened, and he [John] saw the Spirit of God descending
like a dove and alighting on Him;
17 And lo, a voice out from heaven said, This
is My Son, My Beloved, in Whom I delight! [Ps. 2:7;
Is. 42:1.]
CHAPTER 4
HEN Jesus was led (guided) by the CHoly) Spirit
into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted — that is,
tested and tried — by the devil.
2 And He went without food for forty days and
forty nights, and later He was hungry. [Ex. 34:28;
I Kin. 19:8.]
3 And the tempter came and said to Him, If You
are God’s Son, command these stones to be made [loaves
of] bread.
4 But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not
*Vincent, tThayer. EWycliffe’s “Version of the New Testament.”
MATTHEW 4 9
live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but
by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
[Deut. 8:3.]
5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city, and
placed Him on £a turret (pinnacle, "gable) of the temple
sanctuary, [Neh. 11:1; Dan. 9:24.]
6 And he said to Him, If You are the Son of God,
throw Yourself down; for it is written, He will give His
angels charge over you, and they will bear you up on
their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
[Ps. 91:11, 12.]
7 Jesus said to him, °On the other hand it is written
also, You shall not tempt, “test thoroughly or *try exceed-
ingly the Lord your God. [Deut. 6:16.]
8 Again the devil took Him up on a very high moun-
tain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and
the glory — the splendor, magnificence, pre-eminence
and excellence — of them;
9 And he said to Him, These things all taken to-
gether I will give You, if You will prostrate Yourself
before me and do homage and worship me.
10 Then Jesus said to him, Be gone, Satan! for it
has been written, You shall worship the Lord your God
and Him alone shall you serve. [Deut. 6:13.]
11 Then the devil departed from Him, and behold,
angels came and ministered to Him.
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been ar-
rested and put in prison, He withdrew into Galilee.
13 And leaving Nazareth He went and dwelt in
*Abbott-Smith. bMoulton and Milligan. *Vincent. Thayer.
*Young’s “Analytical Concordance.” fTrench.
10 MATTHEW 4
Capernaum by the sea, in the country of Zebulun and
Naphtali,
14 That what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah
might be brought to pass:
15 The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali
in the “way to the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the
Gentiles [that is, of the “peoples who are not of Israel];
(Is. 9:1-2.]
16 The people who sat *Cdwelt enveloped) in dark-
ness have seen a great Light, and for those who sat in
the land and shadow of death Light has dawned.
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, ‘crying out,
Repent — that is, 8change your mind for the better,
heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past
sins — for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
18 As He was walking by the sea of Galilee, He
noticed two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and
Andrew his brother, throwing a dragnet into the sea,
for they were fishermen.
19 And He said to them, Come £after Me [as dis-
ciples] — letting Me be your Guide, follow Me — and 1
will make you fishers of men!
20 At once they left their nets and *became His dis-
ciples — sided with His party and followed Him.
21 And going on further from there He noticed two
other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his
brother, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending
their nets and putting them to rights, and He called
them.
4Cremer’s “‘Biblico-Theological Lexicon of New Testament Greek.”
*Wycliffe. {Vincent. Thayer.
MATTHEW 5 VW
22 At once they left the boat and their father and
“joined Jesus as disciples — sided with His party and fol-
lowed Him.
23 And He went about all Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues and preaching the good news (Gospel) of
the kingdom and healing every disease and every weak-
ness and inhrmity among the people.
24 So the report of Him spread throughout all
Syria, and they brought Him all that were sick, those
afflicted with various diseases and torments, those under
the power of demons, and epileptics, and paralyzed
people; and He healed them.
25 And great crowds joined and accompanied Him
about, coming from Galilee and Decapolis [the dis-
trict of the ten cities east of the Sea of Galilee] and
Jerusalem and Judea and from the other [the east] side
of the Jordan.
CHAPTER 5
EEING the crowds, He went up on the mountain,
and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.
2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them say-
ing:
3. Blessed —happy, *to be envied, and ‘spiritually
prosperous [that is, “with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s
favor and salvation, regardless of their outward condi-
tions] — are the poor in spirit (the humble, rating them-
selves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
4 Blessed and enviably happy, [with a “happiness
“Thayer. bSouter’s “A Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament
‘Wuest’s ‘‘Mark in the Greek New Testament.” dCremer.
12 MATTHEW 5
produced by experience of God’s favor and especially
conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are
those who mourn, for they shall be comforted! [Is. 61:2.]
5 Blessed —happy, blithesome, joyous, ‘spiritually
prosperous [that is, ‘with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s
favor and salvation, regardless of their outward condi-
tions] — are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering),
for they shall inherit the earth! [Ps. 37:11.]
6 Blessed and fortunate and happy and ‘spiritually
prosperous [that is, in that state in which the born-again
child of God 4enjoys His favor and salvation] are those
who hunger and thirst for righteousness Cuprightness
and right standing with God), for they shall be ‘com-
pletely satished! [Is. 55:1, 2.]
7 Blessed— happy, to be envied, and ‘spiritually
prosperous [that is, ‘with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s
favor and salvation, regardless of their outward condi-
tions] — are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!
8 Blessed — happy, Penviably fortunate, and ‘spiritu-
ally prosperous [that is, possessing the “happiness pro-
duced by experience of God’s favor and especially con-
ditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of
their outward conditions] — are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God! [Ps. 24:3, 4.]
9 Blessed — enjoying "enviable happiness, ‘spiritually
prosperous [that is, “with life-joy and satisfaction in God's
favor and salvation, regardless of their outward condi-
tions] — are the makers and ‘maintainers of peace, for
they shall be called the sons of God!
bSouter’s “Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament.” ¢Vincent,
“Cremer. ‘Tyndale’s ‘‘Version of the New Testament.”
MATTHEW 5 13
10 Blessed and happy and Yenviably fortunate and
‘spiritually prosperous [that is, 4in the state in which one
enjoys and finds satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation,
regardless of his outward conditions], are those who are
persecuted for righteousness’ sake (for being and doing
right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
11 Blessed —happy, *to be envied, and ‘spiritually
prosperous [that is, ¢with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s
favor and salvation, regardless of your outward condi-
tions] — are you when people revile you and persecute
you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on
My account.
12 Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward
in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same
way people persecuted the prophets who were before
you. [II Chron. 36:16.]
13 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost
its taste—its strength, its quality —how can iis salt-
ness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer
but to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.
14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a
hill cannot be hid.
15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck-
measure but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all
in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men that they may
see your “moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble
and good deeds, and ‘recognize and honor and praise
and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.
LSouter’s ‘Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament.”
"Wuest. ¢Cremer.
14 MATTHEW 5
17 Do not think that I have come to do away with or
®undo the Law and the prophets; I have come not to do
away with or undo, but to complete and fulfill them.
18 For truly, I tell you, until the sky and earth pass
away and perish not one smallest letter nor one little hook
[identifying certain Hebrew letters] will pass from the
Law until all things [it foreshadows] have been ac-
complished.
19 Whoever then breaks or does away with or re-
laxes one of the least important of these commandments
and teaches men so, shal] be called least important in the
kingdom of heaven; but he who practises them and
teaches others to do so shall be called great in the king-
dom of heaven.
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness Cyour up-
rightness and your right standing with God) is more
than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never
enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 You have heard that it was said to the men of
old, You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be ‘liable
so that he cannot escape the punishment imposed by the
court. [Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17; 16:18.]
22 But I say to you that every one who continues to
be "angry with his brother or harbors malice [enmity of
heart] against him shall be ‘liable to and unable to escape
the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever
speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother
shall be ‘liable to and unable to escape the punishment
imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You
&Wycliffe. hMany ancient authorities insert ‘‘without cause.” 'Thayer.
MATTHEW 5 15
tcursed fool! — You empty-headed idiot! shall be ‘liable
to and unable to escape the hell CGehenna) of fre.
23 So if, when you are offering your gift at the altar
you there remember that your brother has any [griev-
ance] against you,
24 Leave your gift at the altar and go; first make
peace with your brother, and then come back and pre-
sent your gift.
25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while
you are on the way travelling with him, lest your accuser
hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard,
and you be put in prison;
26 ‘Truly, I say to you, you will never be released
until you have paid the last fraction of a penny.
27 You have heard that it was said, You shall not
commit adultery, [Ex. 20:14, Deut. 5:18.]
28 But I say to you that every one who so much as
looks at a woman with evil desire for her has already
committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 If your right eye serves as a trap to ensnare you
or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin, pluck it out
and throw it away. It is better that you lose one of your
members than that your whole budy be cast into hell
(Gehenna).
30 And if your right hand serves as a trap to en-
snare you or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin,
cut it off and cast it from you. It is better that you lose
one of your members than that your entire body should
be cast into hell (Gehenna).
bYV illiams. !Thayer.
16 MATTHEW 5
31 It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must
give her a certificate of divorcement.
32 But I tell you, Whoever dismisses and repudi-
ates and divorces his wife, except on the grounds of un-
faithfulness (sexual immorality), causes her to commit
adultery; and whoever marries a woman who has been
divorced commits adultery. [Deut. 24: 1-4.]
33 Again, you have heard that it was said to the men
of old, You shall not swear falsely, but you shall perform
your oaths to the Lord — as a religious duty.
34 But I tell you, Do not bind yourselves by an oath
at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
35 Or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet,
or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
[Is. 66:1; Ps. 48:2.]
36 And do not swear by your head, for you are not
able to make a single hair white or black.
37 Let your Yes be simply Yes, and your No be
simply No; anything more than that comes from the evil
one. [Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:21.]
38 You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye
and a tooth for a tooth, [Ex. 21:24, Lev. 24:20; Deut.
19:21.]
39 But I say to you, Do not resist the evil man [who
injures you]; but if any one strikes you on the right jaw
or cheek, turn to him the other one too;
40 And if any one wants to sue you and take your
undershirt Ctunic), let him have your coat also;
41] And if any one forces you to go one mile, go with
him two [miles].
42 Give to him who keeps on begging from you, and
MATTHEW 6 17
do not turn away from him who would borrow Cat
interest) from you, [Deut. 15:8; Prov. 24:29.]
43 You have heard that it was said, You shall love
your neighbor and hate your enemy;
44 But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you, [Prov. 25:2], 22.]
45 “Τὸ show that you are the children of your Father
Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the
wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon
the upright and the wrongdoers [alike].
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward
can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that?
47 And if you greet only your brethren, what more
than others are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles
Cthe heathen) do that?
48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly
Father is perfect [that is, grow into complete “maturity
of godliness in mind and character, having reached the
proper height of virtue and integrity]. [Lev. 19:2, 18.]
CHAPTER 6
AKE care not to do your good deeds publicly or be-
fore men in order to be seen by them; otherwise
you will have no reward [‘reserved for and atvaiting you]
with and from your Father Who is in heaven.
2 Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow
a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues
and in the streets like to do, that they may be ‘recog-
eVincent. AW uest. ©Thayer. fCremer.
18 MATTHEW 6
nized and honored and praised by men. Truly, I tell
you, they have their reward — 4in full already.
3 But when you give to charity, do not let your left
hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and
your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly.
5 Also when you pray you must not be like the hypo-
crites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues
and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen
by people. ‘Truly, I tell you, they have their reward
— in full already.
6 But when you pray, go into your most private
room, and closing the door, pray to your Father Who is in
secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward
you in the open.
7 And when you pray do not (multiply words, re-
peating the same ones over and over, and) heaping up
phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be
heard for their much speaking. [I Kin. 18:25-29,]
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what
you need before you ask Him.
9 Pray therefore like this: Our Father Who is in
heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come, Your wili be done, on earth
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven
‘left, remitted and let go the debts, and ‘given up re-
sentment against) our debtors.
4Vincent, *Moulton and Milligan. tWebster for ‘‘forgive.”
MATTHEW 6 19
12 And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but de-
liver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom
and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive people their trespasses — that is,
their reckless and wilful sins, ‘leaving them, letting them
go and ‘giving up resentment — your heavenly Father will
also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive others their trespasses —
their reckless and wilful sins, ‘leaving them, letting them
go and ‘giving up resentment — neither will your Father
forgive you your trespasses.
16 And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy
and "sour and ‘dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on
a dismal countenance that their fasting may be apparent
and seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their
reward — in full already. [Is. 58:5.]
17 But when you fast, perfume your head and wash
vour face,
18 So that your fasting may not be noticed by men
but by your Father Who sees in secret; and your Father
Who sees in secret will reward you in the open.
19 Do not gather and heap up and store for your-
selves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and
kworm consume and destroy, and where thieves break
through and steal;
20 But Jgather and heap up and store for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor
kKworm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not
break through and steal;
*Moulton and Milligan. _ * Webster for ‘‘forgive.”” &Vincent.
thuther. 'Trench. ‘Thayer. “Alternate reading.
20 MATTHEW 6
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart
be also.
22 ‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye
is sound, your entire body will be full of light;
23 But if your eye is unsound, your whole body will
be full of darkness. If then the very light in you [your
'conscience] is darkened, how dense is that darkness!
24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will
hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and
be devoted to the one and despise and be "against the
other. You cannot serve God and mammon [that is, ‘de-
ceitful riches, money, possessions or /what is trusted in].
25 Therefore I tell you, stop being ‘perpetually un-
easy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you
shall eat or what you shall drink, and about your body,
what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality]
than food, and the body [far above and more excellent]
than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor
reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father
keeps feeding them. Are you not worth more than they?
27 And which of you by worrying and being anxious
can add one unit of measure [cubit] to his stature or to
the "span of his life? [Ps. 39:5-7.]
28 And why should you be anxious about clothes?
Consider the lilies of the field and ‘learn thoroughly how
they grow; they neither toil nor spin;
29 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his jmagnif-
» Vincent. ' Cremer ὁ Thayer.
k Souter: [cubit] used as a measurement of time. 1 Wuest.
MATTHEW 7 21
cence (excellence, dignity and grace) was not arrayed like
one of these. [I Kin. 10:4-7.]
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which
today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the
furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O
you men with little faith?
31 ‘Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying,
What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we go-
ing to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to
wear?
32 For the Gentiles Cheathen) wish for and crave
and diligently seek after all these things; and your heav-
enly Father well knows that you need them all.
33 But seek for Ciaim at and strive after) first of all
His kingdom, and His righteousness [His way of doing
and being right], and then all these things ‘taken to-
gether will be given you besides.
34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own.
Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.
CHAPTER 7
D° not judge and criticize and condemn others, so
that you may not be judged and criticized and
condemned yourselves.
2 For just as you judge and criticize and condemn
others you will be judged and criticized and condemned,
and in accordance with the measure you deal out to
others it will be dealt out again to you.
iThayer. *Williams.
22 MATTHEW 7
3 Why do you ®stare from without at the >very small
particle that is in your brother’s eye, but do not become
aware of and consider the beam ‘of timber that is in
your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, Let me get
the tiny particle out of your eye, when there is the beam
‘of timber in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of
your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the
tiny particle out of your brother’s eye.
6 Do not give that which is holy — the sacred thing
— to the dogs; and do not throw your pearls before hogs,
lest they trample upon them with their feet and turn
and tear you in pieces.
7 4%Keep on asking and it will be given you; *keep on
seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently]
and the door will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he
who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on
knocking it will be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him
for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent?
1] 1 you then, evil as you are, know how to give
good and ‘advantageous gifts to your children, how much
more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He
is] give good and ‘advantageous things to those who
“keep on asking Him!
‘Vincent. Moulton and Milligan. ¢Abbott-Smith.
IWuest’s ‘Golden Nuggets from the Greek New Testament.”
eCremer.
MATTHEW 7 23
12 So then whatever you desire that others would
do to and for you, even so do you also to and for them,
for this is [sums up,] the Law and the prophets.
13 Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the
gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away
to destruction, and many are those who are entering it.
14 But the gate is narrow — contracted ‘by pressure
— and the way is straitened and compressed that leads
away to life, and few are they who find it. [Jer. 21:8;
Deut. 30:19.]
15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you
dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves.
[Ezek. 22:27.]
16 You will &fully recognize them by their fruits. Do
people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
17 Even so every healthy (sound) tree bears good
fruit — "worthy of admiration; but the sickly Cdecaying,
worthless) tree bears bad and worthless fruit.
18 A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless)
fruit; nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear "excellent fruit
— worthy of admiration.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut
down and cast into the fire.
20 Therefore you will %fully know them by their
fruits.
21 Not every one who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will
enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will
of My Father Who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out
fSouter. €Vincent, hCremer.
24 MATTHEW 8
demons in Your name, and done many mighty works
in Your name?
23 And then I will say to them openly Cpublicly) I
never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly
— disregarding My commands. [Ps. 6:8.]
24 So every one who hears these words of Mine and
acts upon them — obeying them — will be like a ®sensible
(prudent, practical, wise.) man who built his house upon
the rock;
25 And the rain fell and the floods came, and the
winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not
fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And every one who hears these words of Mine
and does not do them will be like a stupid Cfoolish) man
who built his house upon the sand;
27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the
winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and
great and complete was the fall of it.
28 When Jesus had finished these sayings [the
Sermon on the Mount], the crowds were astonished and
overwhelmed with bewildered wonder at His teaching,
29 For He was teaching as [One] Who had [and
was] authority, and not as did the scribes.
CHAPTER 8
Ww Jesus came down from the mountain, great
throngs followed Him.
2 And behold, a leper came up to Him and pros-
bAbbott-Smith.
MATTHEW 8 25
trating himself, worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if You
will, You are able to "cleanse me by curing me.
3 And He reached out His hand and touched him,
saying, I will; be cleansed *by being cured. And in-
stantly his leprosy was cured and cleansed.
4 And Jesus said to him, See that you tell nothing
about this to any one; but go, show yourself to the
priest, and present the offering that Moses commanded,
for a testimony [to your healing] and as an evidence to
the people. [Lev. 14:2.]
5 As Jesus went into Capernaum, a centurion came
up to Him, begging Him
6 And saying, Lord, my servant boy is lying at the
house paralyzed and ‘distressed with intense pains.
7 And Jesus said to him, I will come and restore him.
8 But the centurion replied to Him, Lord, I am not
worthy or fit to have You come under my roof; but only
speak the word, and my servant boy will be cured.
9 For I also am a man subject to authority, with sol-
diers subject to me; and I say to one, Go, and he goes;
and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my slave,
Do this, and he does it.
10 When Jesus heard him, He marveled, and said to
those who followed Him [that is, "who adhered stead-
fastly to Him, conforming to His example in living and
if need be in dying also], I tell you, truly I have not
found so much faith as this »with any one, even in Israel.
11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and
sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the king-
dom of heaven,
«Thayer. bAlternate reading.
26 MATTHEW 8ὃ
12 While the sons and heirs of the kingdom will be
driven out into the darkness outside, where there will be
weeping and grinding of teeth. [Is. 49:12; 59:19; Mal.
1:11; Ps: 107:3.]
13 Then to the centurion Jesus said, Go; it shall be
done for you as you have believed. And the servant boy
was restored to health at that very *moment.
14 And when Jesus went into Peter’s house, He saw
his mother-in-law lying ill with a fever;
15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and
she got up and began waiting on Him.
16 When evening came they brought to Him many
who were "under the power of demons, and He drove
out the spirits with a word, and restored to health all
who were sick;
17 And thus He fulfilled what was spoken by the
prophet Isaiah, He Himself took C*in order to carry away)
our weaknesses and infirmities and bore ‘away our
diseases. [Is. 53:4.]
18 Now Jesus, when He saw great throngs around
Him, gave orders to cross to the other side [of the lake].
19 And a scribe came up and said to Him, Master, I
will accompany You wherever You go.
20 And Jesus replied to him, Foxes have holes, and
the birds of the air have lodging places; but the Son of
man has nowhere to lay His head.
21 Another of the disciples said to Him, Lord, let
me first go and bury [4care for till death] my father.
@ Moulton and Milligan. b Thayer.
¢ Abbott-Smith. Berry. Souter. Thayer. Hickie. (Greck-English lexicons to
the New Testament.) 4 Most commentators,
MATTREW 8 27
22 But Jesus said to him, Follow Me, and leave the
dead [*in sin] to bury their own dead.
23 And after He got into the boat, His disciples fol-
lowed Him.
24 And suddenly, behold, there arose a violent storm
on the sea, so that the boat was being covered up by the
waves; but He was sleeping.
25 And they went and awakened Hin, saying, Lord,
rescue and preserve us! We are perishing!
26 And He said to them, Why are you timid and
afraid, O you of little faith? ‘Then He got up and re-
buked the winds and the sea, and there was a great and
wonderful calm (‘a perfect peaceableness).
27 And the men were stunned with bewildered won-
der and marveled, saying, What kind of Man is this, that
even the winds and the sea obey Him!
28 And when He arrived at the other side, at the
country of the Gadarenes, two men under the control of
demons went to meet Him, coming out of the tombs, so
fierce and savage that no one was able to pass that way.
29 And behold, they shrieked and screamed, What
have You to do with us, Jesus, Son of God? Have
You come to torment us before the appointed time?
(Judg. 11:12; II Sam. 16:10.]
30 Now at some distance from there a drove of many
hogs was grazing.
31 And the demons begged Him, If You drive us
out, send us into the drove of hogs.
32 And He said to them, Begone! So they came out
and went into the hogs; and behold, the whole drove
«Barnes. bVincent. ‘Wycliffe.
28 MATTHEW 9
rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and died in
the water.
33 The herdsmen fled, and went into the town and
reported everything, including what had happened to
the men under the power of demons.
34 And behold, the whole town went out to meet
Jesus, and as soon as they saw Him, they begged Him to
depart from their locality.
CHAPTER 9
A ND Jesus getting into a boat crossed to the other
side and came to His own town [Capernaum].
2 And behold, they brought to Him a man paralyzed
and prostrated by illness, lying on a sleeping pad, and
when Jesus saw their faith He said to the paralyzed man,
Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven and the “penalty
remitted.
3. And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves,
This man blasphemes — He claims the rights and pre-
rogatives of God!
4 But Jesus, knowing (seeing) their thoughts, said,
Why do you think evil and harbor *malice in your
hearts?
5 For which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven
and the *penalty remitted, or say, Get up and walk?
6 And in order that you may know that the Son of
man has authority on earth to forgive sins and "remit the
penalty, He then said to the paralyzed man, Get up!
Pick up your sleeping pad and go to your own house.
7 And he got up and went away to his own house.
“Thayer. bMany ancient authorities so read.
MATTHEW 9 29
8 When the crowds saw it, they were struck with
fear and awe, and they *recognized God and praised and
thanked Him, Who had given such power and authority
to men.
9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man
named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s office; and
He said to him, "Be My disciple — side with My party
and follow Me. And he rose and followed Him.
10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, be-
hold, many tax collectors and especially wicked sinners
came and sat (reclined) with Him and His disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to
His disciples, Why does your Master eat with tax col-
lectors and those pre-eminently sinful?
12 But when Jesus heard it, He replied, Those who
are strong and well have no need of a physician, but
those who are weak and sick.
13 Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy
[that is, 5readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacri-
fice and sacrificial victims. For 1 came not to call and
invite [to repentance] the righteous — those who are up-
right and in right standing with God; but sinners — the
erring ones and all those not free from sin. [Hos. 6:6.]
14 Then the disciples of John came to Jesus, inquir-
ing, Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast ‘often,
[that is, abstain from food and drink, as a religious exer-
cise], but Your disciples do not fast?
15 And Jesus replied to them, Can the wedding
guests mourn while the bridegroom is still with them?
«Cremer. b'Thayer. ¢Many ancient authorities so read.
30 MATTHEW 9
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away
from them, and then they will fast.
16 And no one puts a piece of cloth that has not
been shrunk on an old garment, for such a patch tears
away from the garment and a worse rent is made.
17 Neither is new wine put in old wineskins, for if
it is, the skins burst and are ‘torn in pieces, and the
wine is spilled and the skins ruined; but new wine is
put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.
18 While He was talking this way to them, behold,
a ruler entered and kneeling down, worshipped Him,
saying, My daughter has just 4now died; but come and
lay Your hand on her and she wil! come to life.
19 And Jesus got up and accompanied him, with His
disciples.
20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a
flow of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and
touched the fringe of His garment; [Num. 15:38; Deut.
22:12.]
21 For she kept saying to herself, If I only touch His
garment, 1 shall be restored to health.
22 Jesus turned around and seeing her He said, Take
courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well. And
at once the woman was restored to health.
23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and
saw the flute players, and the crowd making an uproar
and din,
24 He said, Go away; for the girl is not dead but
sleeping. And they laughed and jeered at Him.
eThayer. ‘Vincent.
MATTHEW 9 9]
25 But when the crowd had been ordered to go out-
side, He went in and took her by the hand, and the
girl arose.
26 And the news about this spread through all that
district.
27 As Jesus was passing on from there, two blind
men followed Him, shouting loudly, Have pity avd mercy
on us, Son of David!
28 When He reached the house and went in, the
blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, Do
you believe that I am able to do this? ‘They said to
Him, Yes, Lord.
29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to
your faith and trust and reliance [on the power invested
in Me] be it done to you.
30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus earnestly
and sternly charged them, See that you let no one know
about this.
31 But they went off and blazed and spread His
fame abroad throughout that whole district.
32 And while they were going away, behold, a dumb
man under the power of a demon was brought to Jesus.
33 And when the demon had been driven out, the
dumb man spoke; and the crowds were stunned with be-
wildered wonder, saying, Never before has anything like
this been seen in Israel.
34 But the Pharisees said, He drives out demons
through and with the help of the prince of demons.
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages,
teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good
32 MATTHEW 10
news (the Gospel) of the kingdom, and curing all kinds
of disease and every weakness and infirmity.
36 When He saw the throngs, He was moved with
pity and sympathy for them, because they were bewil-
dered — harassed and distressed and dejected and help-
less — like sheep without a shepherd. [Zech. 10:2.]
37 ‘Then He said to His disciples, The harvest is in-
deed plentiful, but the laborers are few.
38 So pray the Lord of the harvest to *force out and
thrust laborers into His harvest.
CHAPTER 10
ND Jesus summoned to Him His twelve disciples
and gave them power and authority over unclean
spirits, to drive them out, and to cure all kinds of dis-
ease and all kinds of weakness and infirmity.
2 Now these are the names of the twelve apostles:
first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother;
James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3. Philip and Bartholomew [Nathaniel]; ‘Thomas and
Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus,
and Thaddaeus [Judas, not Iscariot];
4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who also
betrayed Him.
5 Jesus sent out these twelve, charging them, Go
nowhere among the Gentiles, and do not go into any
town of the Samaritans,
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel.
*Vincent,
MATTHEW 10 33
7 And as you go, preach saying, The kingdom of
heaven is at hand!
8 Cure the sick; raise the dead; cleanse the lepers;
drive out demons. Freely (without pay) you have re-
ceived; freely (without charge) give.
9 ‘Take no gold, nor silver, nor [even] copper money
in your purses (belts),
10 And do not take a provision-bag or a "wallet for
a collection-bag for your journey, nor two undergarments,
nor sandals, nor a staff, for the workman deserves his
support — his living, his food.
11 And into whatever town or village you go, inquire
who in it is deserving, and stay there fat his house]
until you leave [that vicinity].
12 As you go into the house, give your greetings and
wish it well.
13 Then if indeed that house is deserving, let come
upon it your peace [that is, "freedom from all the dis-
tresses that are experienced as the result of sin]. But if
it is not deserving, let your peace return to you.
14 And whoever will not receive and accept and wel-
come you nor listen to your message, as you leave that
house or town shake the dust of it from your feet.
15 Truly, I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on
the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomor-
rah than for that town.
16 Lo, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of
wolves; be ‘wary and wise as serpents, and be inno-
*Moulton and Milligan. Cremer, ‘Wycliffe.
34 MATTHEW 10
cent — harmless, guileless and *without falsity — as doves.
[Gen. 3:1.]
17 Be on guard against the men [whose way or na-
ture is to act in opposition to God]; for they will deliver
you up to councils and flog you in their synagogues,
18 And you will be brought before governors and
kings for My sake, for a witness to bear testimony before
them and to the Gentiles (the nations).
19 But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious
about how or what you are to speak; for what you are to
say will be given you in that very hour and ‘moment.
20 For it is not you who are speaking, but the Spirit
of your Father speaking through you.
21 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the
father his child, and children will take a stand against
their parents, and will have them put to death;
22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s
sake. But he who perseveres and endures to the end will
be saved [“from spiritual disease and death in the world
to come].
23 When they persecute you in one town [that is,
pursue you in a manner to injure you and cause you to
suffer because of your belief], Hee to another town; for
truly, I tell you, you will not have gone through all the
towns of Israel before *the Son of man comes.
24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a servant
or slave above his master.
25 It is sufficient for the disciple to be like his teach-
® Luther (-Vincent). b Cremer. ¢ Moulton and Milligan.
4 Abbott-Smith.
ὁ Believed by many to mean the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
MATTHEW 10 35
er, and the servant or slave like his master. If they have
called the Master of the house Beelzebub [%meaning
master of the dwelling], how much more will they speak
evil of those of His household. [II Kin. 1:2.]
26 So have no fear of them; for nothing is concealed
that will not be revealed, or kept secret that will not
become known.
27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light;
and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim upon
the housetops.
28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul, but rather be afraid of him who
can destroy both soul and body in hell CGehenna).
29 Are not two "little sparrows sold for a penny?
And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without
your lather’s leave and notice.
30 But even the very hairs of your head are all num-
bered.
31 Fear not, then; you are of more value than many
sparrows.
32 ‘Therefore, every one who acknowledges Me be-
fore men and confesses Me [*out of a state of oneness
with Me], [ will also acknowledge before My Father
Who is in heaven, and *confess [aLiding] in him.
33 But whoever denies and disowns Me before men,
I also will deny and disown before My Father Who is
in heaven.
34 Do not think that I have come to bring peace
upon the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a
sword.
ἘΠ αν ς᾽ ‘‘Dictionary of the Bible.’’ bVincent.
36 MATTHEW 10
35 For I have come to part asunder a man from his
father, and a daughter from her mother, and a "newly
married wife from her mother-in-law;
36 And a man’s foes will be they of his own house-
hold. [Mic. 7:6.]
37 He who ‘takes more pleasure in father or mother
than in Me and ['thus] loves them more than Me is not
worthy of Me;
38 And he who does not take up his cross and follow
Me [that is, icleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly
to My example in living and if need be in dying also] is
not worthy of Me.
39 Whoever finds his ['lower] life will lose [the
higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My
account will find [the higher life].
40 He who receives and welcomes and accepts you,
receives and welcomes and accepts Me; and he who re-
ceives and welcomes and accepts Me, receives and wel-
comes and accepts Him Who sent Me.
41 He who receives and welcomes and accepts a
prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s
reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts
a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall re-
ceive a righteous man’s reward.
42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [in
rank or influence] even a cup of cold water because he
is My disciple, surely, I declare to you, he shall not
lose his reward.
bVincent. 'Wuest, 1Thayes,
MATTHEW 11 37
CHAPTER 11
HEN Jesus had finished His charge to His twelve
disciples, He left there to teach and to preach in
their [Galilean] cities.
2 Now when John in prison heard about the activi-
ties of Christ, he sent a message by his disciples,
3. And asked Him, Are You He Who was to come,
or should we keep on expecting a different one?
[Gen. 49:10; Num. 24:17.]
4 And Jesus replied to them, Go and report to John
what you hear and sce:
5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed Cby healing), and the deaf hear, and
the «lead are raised up, and the poor have good news
(the Gospel) preached to them. [Is. 35:5, 6; 61:1.]
6 And blessed — happy, fortunate and "to be envied
— is he who takes no offense at Me, and finds no cause
for stumbling in or through Me, and is not hindered
from seeing the Truth.
7 Then as these men went their way, Jesus began to
speak to the crowds about John: What did you go out
in the wilderness Cdesert) to see? A reed swayed by
the wind?
8 What did you go out to see then? A man clothed
in soft garments? Behold, those who wear soft cloth-
ing are in the houses of kings.
9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes,
I tell you, and one (out of the common, more eminent,
more remarkable and) "superior to a prophet.
*Souter. bAbbott-Smith.
38 MATTHEW 11
10 This is the one of whom it is written, Behold I
send My messenger on ahead of You, who shall make
ready Your way before you. [Mal. 3:1.]
11 ‘Truly, I tell you, among those born of women
there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist;
yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater
than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the
present time the kingdom of heaven has endured violent
assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious
prize] —a *share in the heavenly kingdom is sought for
with most ardent zeal and intense exertion.
13 For all the Law and the prophets prophesied up
until John,
14 And if you are willing to receive and accept it,
John himself is Elijah who was to come [before the
kingdom]. [Mal. 4:5.]
15 He who has ears to hear, let him be listening, and
consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing.
16 But to what shall I liken this generation? It is
like little children sitting in the market places who call
to their playmates,
17 We piped to you {playing wedding], and you
did not dance; we wailed dirges [playing funeral], and
you did not mourn and beat your breasts and weep aloud.
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking with
others, and they say, He has a demon!
19 The Son of man came eating and drinking with
others and they say, Behold, a glutton and a wine drinker,
a friend of tax collectors and “especially wicked sin-
Thayer. bAbbott-Smith,
MATTHEW 11 39
ners! Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by what
she does Cher deeds) and by cher children.
20 ‘Then He began to censure and reproach the cities
in which most of His mighty works had been per-
formed, because they did not repent — their hearts were
not changed.
21 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! for
if the mighty works done in you had been done in
Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in
sackcloth and ashes—and their hearts have been
changed.
22 I tell you [further], it shall be more endurable for
Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
23 And you, Capernaum, are you to be lifted up to
heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades [the
region of the dead]! For if the mighty works done in
you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued
until today.
24 But I tell you, it shall be more endurable for the
land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.
25 At that time Jesus began to say, I thank You,
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, and ‘acknowledge
openly and joyfully to Your honor that you have hidden
these things from the wise and clever and learned, and
revealed them to babies — to the @childish, untaught and
unskilled.
26 Yes, Father, [I praise You that] such was Your
gracious will and good pleasure.
27 All things were entrusted and delivered to Me
¢ Many ancient authorities read children, as in Lk. 7:35. d Thayer.
40 MATTHEW 12
by My Father; and no one “fully knows and ‘accurately
understands the Son except the Father; and no one
dfully knows and ‘accurately understands the Father ex-
cept the Son and any one to whom the Son ‘deliberately
wills to make Him known.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-
Jaden and over burdened, and 1 will cause you to rest —
I will tease and relieve and "refresh ‘your souls.
29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for
I am gentle (meek) and humble Clowly) in heart, and
you will find rest — "relief, ease and refreshment and
‘recreation and blessed quiet — for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.]
30 For My yoke is wholesome Cuseful, *good) — not
harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious
and pleasant; and My burden is light and easy to be
borne.
CHAPTER 12
T that “particular time Jesus went through the
fields of standing grain on the Sabbath, and His
disciples were hungry, and they began to pick off the
spikes of grain and to eat. [Deut. 23:25.]
2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him,
See there! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful
and not permitted on the Sabbath.
3 He said to them, Have you not even read what
David did when he was hungry, and those who ac-
companied him? [I Sam. 21:1-6, Lev. 24:9.]
4 How he went into the house of God and ate the
¢' Thayer. qdVincent. €Moulton and Milligan.
fTyndale. Wycliffe. 4Souter.
MATTHEW 12 4]
loaves of the showbread, which it was not lawful for
him to eat nor for the men who accompanied him, but
for the priests only?
5 Or have you never read in the Law how on the
Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the sanctity of
the Sabbath, breaking it, and yet are guiltless?) [Num.
28:9, 10.]
6 But I tell you, Something greater and ‘more exalted
and more majestic than the temple is here!
7 And if you had only known what this saying
means, I want mercy [readiness to help, to spare, to for-
give] rather than sacrifice and sacrificial victims, you
would not have condemned the guiltless. [Hos. 6:6.]
8 For the Son of man is Lord [even] of the Sabbath.
9 And going on from there, He went into their
synagogue.
10 And behold, a man was there with one withered
hand. And they said to Him, Is it lawful or allowable
to cure people on the Sabbath days?
11 But He said to them, What man is there among
you, if he has only one sheep, and it falls into a pit or
ditch on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift
it out?
12 How much better and of more value is ἃ man
than a sheep! So it is lawful and allowable to do good
on the Sabbath days.
13 Then He said to the man, Reach out your hand.
And the man reached it out, and it was restored, sound
as the other one.
°Thayer.
42 MATTHEW 12
14 But the Pharisees went out and held a consulta-
tion against Him, how they might do away with Him.
15 But being aware of this, Jesus went away from
there. And many people ‘joined and accompanied Him,
and He cured all of them,
16 And strictly charged them and sharply warned
[them] not to make Him 4publicly known.
17 This was in fulfillment of what was spoken by
the prophet Isaiah,
18 Behold, My Servant Whom I have chosen, My
Beloved in and with Whom My soul is well pleased and
Shas found its delight. I will put My Spirit upon Him,
and He shall proclaim and ‘show forth judgment to
the nations.
19 He will not strive or wrangle or cry out loudly,
nor will any one hear His voice in the streets;
20 A bruised reed He will not break, and a smolder-
ing (dimly burning) wick He will not quench till He
brings ‘justice and a just cause to victory.
21 And in and on His name will the Gentiles — the
‘peoples outside of Israel — set their hopes. [Is. 42: 1-4.]
22 ‘Then a blind and dumb man, under the power
of a demon, was brought to Jesus, and He cured him,
so that the blind and dumb man both spoke and saw.
23 And all the [crowds of} people were stunned with
bewildered wonder, and said, This cannot be the Son of
David, can it?
24 But the Pharisees hearing it said, This {Man drives
¢Thayer. “4Darby’s ‘‘The New Testament, a New Translation.” °Cremer.
Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speakers may have
thought He was.
MATTHEW 12 43
out demons only by and with the help of Beelzebub, the
prince of demons.
25 And knowing their thoughts, He said to them,
Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being
brought to desolation and laid waste, and no city or
house divided against itself will last or continue to stand.
26 And if Satan drives out Satan, he has become
divided against himself and disunited; how then will his
kingdom last or continue to stand?
27 And if I drive out the demons by [help of] Beel-
zebub, by whose [help] do your sons drive them out?
€For this reason they shall be your judges.
28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out
the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon
vou ["before you expected it].
29 Or how can a person go into a strong man’s house
and carry off his goods—the entire equipment of his
house — without first binding the strong man? Then in-
deed he may plunder his house.
30 He who is not with Me Cdcfinitely ‘on My side),
is against Me, and he who does not (definitely) gather
with Me and for ‘My side, scatters.
3] Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy —
that is, every evil, abusive, Sinjurious speaking or indig-
nity against sacred things—can be forgiven men, but
blasphemy against the CHoly) Spirit shall not and jcan-
not be forgiven.
32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of
man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the
& Darby’s ‘‘The New Testament, a New Translation.”
5 Vincent. ! Thayer. 1 Williams.
44 MATTHEW 12
Spirit, the Holy One, will not be forgiven, either in
this world and age or in the world and age to come.
33 Either make the tree sound (healthy and good),
and its fruit sound Chealthy and good), or make the
tree rotten (diseased and bad) and its fruit rotten
(diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized
and judged by its fruit.
34 You offspring of vipers! How can you speak
good things when you are evil — wicked? For out of the
fullness —the overflow, the ‘superabundance — of the
heart the mouth speaks.
35 The good man from his inner good treasure ‘flings
forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil
storehouse ‘Hings forth evil things.
36 But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will
have to give account for every ‘idle (inoperative, non-
working) word they speak.
37 For by your words you will be justified and ac-
quitted, and by your words you will be condemned and
sentenced.
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to
Him, Teacher, we desire to see a sign or miracle from
You [proving that You are what You claim to be].
39 But He replied to them, An evil and adulterous
generation [that is, a generation ‘morally unfaithful to
God] seeks and demands a sign; but no sign shall be
given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For even as Jonah was three days and three nights
in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of man be
*Souter. fVincent.
MATTHEW 12 45
three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
[Jon. 1:17.]
41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judg-
ment with this generation and condemn it; for they re-
pented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, Something
more and greater than Jonah is here! [Jon. 3:5.]
42 The queen of the South will stand up at the
judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she
came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom
of Solomon, and behold, Something more and greater
than Solomon is here. [I Kin. 10:1; If Chron. 9:1.]
43 But when the unclean spirit has gone out of a
man, he roams through dry places in search of rest, but
he does not find any.
44 Then he says, I will go back to my house from
which 1 came out. And when he arrives he finds the
piace unoccupied, swept, put in order and decorated.
45 ‘Then he goes and brings with him seven other
spirits more wicked than himself, and they go in and
make their home there. And the iast condition of that
man becomes worse than the first. So also shall it be
with this wicked generation.
46 Jesus was still speaking to the people when be-
hold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to
speak to Him.
47 Some one said to Him, Listen! Your mother and
Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to
You.
48 But He replied to the man who told Him, Who is
My mother, and who are My brothers?
46 MATTHEW 13
49 And stretching out His hand toward [not only
the twelve disciples but all] SHis adherents, He said,
Here are My mother and My brothers.
50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven
is My brother and sister and mother!
CHAPTER 13
HAT same day Jesus went out of the house and was
sitting beside the sea.
2 But such great crowds gathered about Him that
He got into a boat and remained sitting there, while all
the throng stood on the shore.
3 And He told them many things in parables — that
is, stories by way of illustration; saying, A sower went
out to sow,
4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside,
and the birds came and ate them up.
5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had
not much soil, and at once they sprang up, because they
had no depth of soil;
6 But when the sun rose they were scorched, and
because they had no root they dried up and withered
away.
7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew
up and choked them out.
8 Other seeds fell on good soil and yielded grain,
some a hundred times as much as was sown, some sixty
times as much, and some thirty.
9 He who has ears [to hear], let him be listening
and *consider and 'perceive and comprehend by hearing.
ε Cremer. b ‘Thayer { Abbott-Smith.
MATTHEW 13 47
10 ‘Then the disciples came to Him and said, Why
do You speak to them in parables?
11 And He replied to them, To you it has been
given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom
of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
12 For whoever has, to him will more be given and
he will ‘be furnished richly, so that he will have abun-
dance; but from him who has not, even what he has
will be taken away.
13. This is the reason that I speak to them in
parables, because Jhaving the power of seeing they do
not see, and Jhaving the power of hearing they do not
hear, nor do they grasp and understand.
14 In them indeed is *the process of fulfillment of
the prophecy of Isaiah which says: You shall indeed
hear and hear, but never grasp and understand; and you
shall indeed look and look, but never see and perceive.
15 For this nation’s heart has grown gross — fat and
dull; and their ears heavy and difficult of hearing, and
their eyes they have tightly closed, lest they see and per-
ceive with their eyes, and hear and comprehend the sense
with their ears, and grasp and understand with their
heart, and turn and I should heal them. [ls. 6:9, 10.]
16 But blessed — happy, fortunate and 'to be envied
— are your eyes, because they do see, and your ears, be-
cause they do hear.
17 Truly, I tell you, many prophets and righteous
men — men who were upright and in right standing with
God — yearned to see what you see, and did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
) Thayer. KE Vincent. 1 Souter.
48 MATTHEW 13
18 Listen then to the parable of the sower.
19 *While anyone is hearing the Word of the king-
dom and does not grasp and comprehend it, the evil one
comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart.
This is what was sown along the roadside.
20 As for what was sown on thin Crocky) soil, this is
he who hears the Word and at once welcomes and ac-
cepts it with joy;
21 Yet it has no real root in himself, but is tempo-
rary — inconstant, “lasts but a little while and when af-
fliction or trouble or persecution comes on account of the
Word, at once he is caused to stumble — he is repelled
and "begins to distrust and desert Him Whom he ought
to trust and obey, and he falls away.
22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is he
who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and the
pleasure and delight and glamour and deceitfulness of
riches choke and suffocate the Word, and it yields no
fruit.
23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who
hears the Word and grasps and comprehends it; he in-
deed bears fruit, and yields in one case a hundred times
as much as was sown, in another sixty times as much,
and in another thirty.
24 Another parable He set forth before them, say-
ing, The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed
good seed in his field;
25 But while he was sleeping, his enemy came and
sowed also darnel [black, wild wheat] among the wheat,
and went his way.
« Vincent. m Wycliffe. 2 Thayer,
MATTHEW 13 49
26 So when the plants sprouted and formed grain,
the darnel [weeds resembling wheat] appeared also.
27 And the servants of the owner came to him and
said, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field?
Then how does it have darnel shoots in it?
28 He replied to them, An enemy has done this. ‘The
servants said to him, Then do you want us to go and
weed them out?
29 But he said, No, lest in gathering the wild wheat
vou root up the [true] wheat along with it.
30 Let them grow together until the harvest; and at
harvest time I will say to the reapers, Gather the darnel
first and bind it in bundles to be burned, but gather
the wheat into my granary.
3] Another story by way of comparison He set forth
before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a
grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in
his field.
32 Of all the seeds it is the smallest, but when it has
grown it is the largest of the garden herbs and becomes
a tree, so that the birds of the air come and find shelter
in its branches.
33 He told them another parable: The kingdom of
heaven is like Jeaven (‘sour dough) which a woman took
and covered over in three measures of meal or flour, till
all of it was Jeavened. [Gen. 18:6.]
34 These things “4}} taken together Jesus said to the
crowds in parables; indeed without a parable He said
nothing to them.
ἃ Wycliffe. © Thayer,
50 MATTHEW 13
35 This was in fulfillment of what was spoken by the
prophet: I will open My mouth in parables; I will
utter things that have been hidden since the founda-
tion of the world. [Ps. 78:2.]
36 Then He left the throngs and went into the
house. And His disciples came to Him saying, Explain
to us the parable of the darnel in the held.
37 He answered, He Who sows the good seed is the
Son of man;
38 The field is the world, and the good seed means
the children of the kingdom; the darnel is the children
of the evil one,
39 And the enemy who sowed it is the devil; the
harvest is the close and consummation of the age, and
the reapers are angels.
40 Just as the darnel Cwild wheat) is gathered and
burned with fire, so it will be at the close of the age.
41 The Son of man will send forth His angels, and
they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of offense
— ‘persons by whom others are drawn into error or sin —
and all who do iniquity and act wickedly,
42 And cast them into the furnace of fire; there will
be weeping and wailing and grinding of teeth.
43 Then will the righteous — those who are upright
and in right standing with God — shine forth as the sun
in the kingdom of their Father. Let him who has ears
be listening, and ‘consider and perceive and understand
by listening.
44 The kingdom of heaven is like ‘something pre-
© Thayer.
MATTHEW 13 5]
cious buried in a field, which a man found and hid
again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and
buys that field.
45 Again the kingdom of heaven is like a man who
is a dealer in search of fine and ‘precious pearls,
46 Who, on finding a single pearl of great price,
went and sold all he had and bought it.
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet
which was cast into the sea and gathered in fish of
every sort;
48 When it was full, men dragged it up on the beach
and sat down and sorted out the good fish into vessels,
but the worthless ones they threw away.
49 So it will be at the close and consummation of
the age. The angels will go forth and separate the
wicked from the righteous — those who are upright and
in right standing with God —
50 And cast [the wicked] into the furnace of fire;
there will be weeping and wailing and grinding of teeth.
51 Have you understood ‘all these [parables] taken
together? ‘They said to Him, Yes, Lord.
52 He said to them, Therefore every ‘teacher and
interpreter of the Sacred Writings who has been in-
structed and trained for the kingdom of heaven and >be-
come a disciple, is like a householder who brings forth
out of his storehouse treasure that is new and [treasure
that is] old —the fresh [as well as] the familiar.
53 When Jesus had finished these parables — these
comparisons — He left there.
54 And coming to His own country [Capernaum]
> Vincent. f Thayer.
52 MATTHEW 14
He taught in their synagogue so that they were amazed
with bewildered wonder, and said, Where did this Man
get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?
55 Is not this the carpenter’s Son? Is not His mother
called Mary? And are not His brothers James and
Joseph and Simon and Judas?
56 And do not all His sisters live here among us?
Where then did this Man get all this?
57 And they took offense at Him — [that is], thev
were repelled and hindered from acknowledging His
authority and caused to stumble. But Jesus said to them,
A prophet is not without honor except in his own country
and in his own house.
58 And He did not do many works of power there,
because of their unbelief — their lack of faith [*in the
divine mission of Jesus].
CHAPTER 14
T that time Herod the governor heard the reports
about Jesus.
2 And he said to his attendants, This is John the
Baptist; He has been raised from the dead, and that is
why the powers *of performing miracles are at work in
Him.
3 For Herod had arrested John and bound him and
(to stow him out of the way) put him in prison, on
account and for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s
wife; for John had said to him,
4 It is not lawful or right for you to have her. [Lev.
18:16; 20:21.]
Δ Vincent. b Abbott-Smith.
MATTHEW 14 53
5 Although he wished to have him put to death, he
was afraid of the people, for they regarded John as a
prophet.
6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of
Herodias danced in the midst [before the company], and
pleased and fascinated Herod,
7 And so he promised with an oath to give her what-
ever she might ask.
8 And she, being put forward and prompted by her
mother, said, Give me the head of John the Baptist
right here on a ®platter.
9 And the king was distressed and sorry; but because
of his oaths and his guests he ordered it to be given her;
10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.
11] And his head was brought in on a ®platter and
given "to the little maid, and she brought it to her
mother.
12 And John’s disciples came and took up the body
and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
13 When Jesus heard it, He withdrew from there
privately in a boat to a solitary place. But when the
crowds heard of it, they followed Him by land on foot
from the towns.
Ι4 When He went ashore and saw a great throng
of people, He had compassion (pity and deep sympathy)
for them and cured their sick.
15 When evening came, the disciples came to Him
and said, This is a remote and barren place, and the day
is now over; send the throngs away into the villages to
buv food for themselves.
« Tyndale. bLuther (-Vincent).
54 MATTHEW 14
16 Jesus said, They do not need to go away; you give
them something to eat.
17 They said to Him, We have nothing here but
five loaves and two fish.
18 He said, Bring them here to Me.
19 Then He ordered the crowds to recline on the
grass; and He took the five loaves and two fish, and look-
ing up to heaven He gave thanks, and blessed and broke
the loaves and handed the pieces to the disciples, and
the disciples gave them to the people.
20 And they all ate and were satisfed. And they
picked up twelve [small hand] baskets full of the broken
pieces left over.
21 And those who ate were about five thousand men,
not including women and children.
22 Then He directed the disciples to get into the
boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent
away the crowds.
23 And after He had dismissed the multitude, He
went up into the hills by Himself to pray. When it was
evening He was still there alone,
24 But the boat was by this time out on the sea,
many furlongs [one-eighth miles] distant from the land,
beaten and tossed by the waves, for the wind was against
them.
25 And in the fourth watch [between three and six
o'clock] of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on
the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the
cVincent. But Moulton and Milligan: Term ‘‘refers to material, not size.”
MATTHEW 15 55
sea, they were terrified, and said, It is a ghost! And they
screamed out with fright.
27 But instantly He spoke to them, saying, Take
courage! I AM; stop being afraid! (Ex. 3:14.]
28 And Peter answered Him, Lord, if it is You,
command me to come to You on the water.
29 Fle said, Come! So Peter got out of the boat and
walked on the water, and He came to Jesus;
30 But when he perceived and felt the strong wind,
he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out,
Lord, save me [from death]!
31 Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught
and held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why
did you doubt?
32 And when they got into the boat, the wind
ceased. |
33 And those in the boat knelt and worshipped Him,
saving, Truly, You are the Son of God!
34 And when they had crossed over to the other
side, they went ashore at Gennesaret.
35. And when the men of that place recognized Him,
they sent around into all the surrounding country and
brought to Him all that were sick,
36 And begged Him to let them merely touch the
fringe of His garment; and as many as touched it were
perfectly restored. [Num. 15:38.]
CHAPTER 15
HEN from Jerusalem there came scribes and Phari-
sees and said,
2 Why do Your disciples transgress and violate the
56 MATTHEW 15
rules handed down by the elders of the past? For they
do not practise [ceremonially] washing their hands be-
fore they eat.
3. He replied to them, And why also do you trans-
gress and violate the commandment of God for the sake
of the rules handed down to you by your forefathers —
the elders?
4 For God commanded, Honor your father and your
mother, and, He who curses or reviles or speaks evil of
or abuses or treats improperly his father or mother, let
him surely come to his end by death. [Ex. 20:12; Deut.
5:16; Ex. 21:17; Lev. 20:9]
5 But you say, If any one tells his father or mother,
What you would have gained from me [that is, the
money and whatever I have that might be used for help-
ing you] is already dedicated as a gift to God, then he
is exempt and no longer under obligation to honor and
help his father and his mother.
6 So for the sake of your tradition (the rules handed
down by your forefathers), you have set aside the Word
of God — depriving it of force and authority and making
it of no effect.
7 You pretenders — hypocrites! Admirably and truly
did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said:
8 This people draw near Me with their mouth and
honor Me with their lips, but their heart holds off and
is far away from Me;
9 Uselessly do they worship Me, for they teach as
doctrines the commands of men. [Is. 29: 13.]
10 And Jesus called the people to Him and said to
them, Listen, and grasp and comprehend this:
MATTHEW 15 57
11 It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that
makes him unclean and defiled, but what comes out of
the mouth; this makes a man unclean and defiles [him].
12 Then the disciples came and said to Him, Do
You know that the Pharisees were displeased and offend-
ed and indignant when they heard this saying?
13 He answered, Every plant which My heavenly
Father has not planted will be torn up by the roots.
(Is. 60:21.]
14 Let them alone and disregard them; they are
blind guides and teachers. And if a blind man leads a
blind man, both will fall into a ditch.
t5 But Peter said to Him, Explain this *proverb —
this "maxim — to us.
16 And He said, Are you also even yet dull and
ignorant — without understanding and ‘unable to put
things together?
17 Do you not see and understand that whatever
goes into the mouth passes into the 4abdomen, and so
passes on into the place where discharges are deposited?
18 But what comes out of the mouth comes from
the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and
dehles [him].
19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts Creason-
ings and disputings and designs.) such as murder, adul-
tery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander and
irreverent speech.
20 These. are what make a man unclean and defile
[him]; but eating with hands unwashed does not make
him unclean or defile [him].
Δ Abbott-Smith. bThayer. eCremer. 4Moulton and Milligan.
58 MATTHEW 15
21 And going away from there, Jesus withdrew to
the district of Tyre and Sidon.
22 And behold, a woman who was a Canaanite of
that district came out and with a Cloud, troublesomely
urgent) cry begged, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of
David! My daughter is miserably and distressingly and
cruelly possessed by a demon!
23 But He did not answer her a word. And His
disciples came and implored Him, saying, Send her away,
for she is crying after us.
24 He answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of
the house of Israel.
25 But she came and kneeling, worshipped Him, and
kept praying, Lord, help me!
26 And he answered, It is not right — proper, becom-
ing or fair— to take the children’s bread and throw it
to the ‘little dogs.
27 She said, Yes, Lord, yet even the ‘little pups
eat the crumbs that fall from their Cyoung) masters’
table.
28 ‘Then Jesus answered her, O woman, great is
your faith! Be it done for you as you wish. And her
daughter was cured from that &moment.
29 And Jesus went on from there and passed along
the shore of the sea of Galilee. ‘Then He went up into
the hills and kept sitting there.
30 And a great multitude came to Him, bringing
with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the dumb,
and many others, and they put them down at His feet
and He cured them.
* Vincent. f Wycliffe: “little whelps.” ε Moulton and Milligan.
MATTHEW 15 59
31 So that the crowd was amazed when they saw the
dumb speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking,
and the blind seeing, and they ‘recognized and praised
and thanked and glorified the God of Israel.
32 Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said,
I have pity and sympathy and am deeply moved for the
crowd, because they have been with Me now three days,
and they have nothing [at all left] to eat, and I am not
willing to send them away hungry lest they faint or be-
come exhausted on the way.
33 And the disciples said to Him, Where are we to
get bread sufficient to feed so great a crowd in this
isolated and desert place?
34 And Jesus asked them, How many loaves of bread
do you have? They replied, Seven and a few small fish.
35 And ordering the crowd to recline on the ground,
36 He took the seven loaves and the fish, and when
He had given thanks He broke them and gave them to
the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
37 And they all ate and were satished; and they
gathered up seven [‘large provision] baskets full of the
broken pieces that were left.
38 Those who ate were four thousand men, not in-
cluding the women and the children.
39 Then He dismissed the crowds, got into the boat,
and went to the district of Magadan.
*Cremer. fVincent. But Moulton and Milligan think size not indicated.
60 MATTHEW 16
CHAPTER 16
OW the Pharisees and Sadducees came up to Jesus
and they asked Him to show them a sign (spec-
tacular miracle) from heaven —attesting His divine
authority.
2 He replied to them, When it is evening you say,
It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be stormy today, for
the sky is red and has a gloomy and threatening look.
You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky,
but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
4 A wicked and morally unfaithful generation craves
for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the
sign of the prophet Jonah. Then He left them and
went away. [Jon. 3:4, 5.]
5 When the disciples reached the other side of the
sea, they found they had forgotten to bring any bread.
6 Jesus said to them, Be careful and on your guard
against the leaven (ferment, of the Pharisees and Saddu-
cees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves about it, say-
ing, [It is] because we did not bring any bread.
8 But Jesus, aware of this asked, Why are you dis-
cussing among yourselves the fact that you have no
bread? O [men, how] little trust [you have in Me, how]
— little faith!
9 Do you not yet discern — perceive and understand?
Do you not remember the five loaves of the five thou-
sand, and how many [fsmall hand] baskets you gathered?
fVincent. (Moulton and Milligan think size not indicated, but material.)
MATTHEW 16 61
10 Nor the seven loaves for the four thousand, and
how many [£large] provision baskets you took up?
11 How is it that you fail to understand that I was
not talking to you about bread? But beware of the
leaven (ferment) of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
12 ‘Then they discerned that He did not tell them to
beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of
the Pharisees and Sadducees.
13 Now when Jesus went into the region of Caesarea
Philippi, He asked His disciples, Who do people say
that the Son of man is?
14. And they answered, Some say John the Baptist,
others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the
prophets.
15 He said to them, But who do you [yourselves]
sav that I am?
16 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son
of the living God.
17 Then Jesus answered him, Blessed — happy, for-
tunate and "to be envied — are you, Simon Bar-Jonah.
For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you,
but My Father Who is in heaven.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter [Petros, masculine,
a large piece of rock], and on this rock [petra, feminine,
a ‘huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and
the gates of Hades (the powers of 'the infernal region)
shall not overpower it — or be strong to its detriment, or
hold out against it.
Vincent. But Moulton and Milligan do not agree.
bSouter. 1W uest. IThayer.
62 MATTHEW 16
19 I will give. you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
and whatever you bind — that is, declare to be improper
and unlawful —on earth ‘must be already bound in
heaven; and whatever you loose on earth — declare
lawful —*must be what is already loosed in heaven.
(Is. 22:22.]
20 ‘Then He sternly and strictly charged and warned
the disciples to tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time forth Jesus began [clearly] to show
His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer
many things at the hands of the elders and the high
priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day
be raised 'from death.
22 Then Peter took Him aside ™to speak to Him
privately, and began to reprove and "charge Him sharply,
saying, God forbid, Lord! ‘This must never happen to
You!
23 But Jesus turned “away from Peter and said to
him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way —an
offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me; for you are
“minding what partakes not of the nature and quality
of God, but of men.
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If any one de-
sires to be My disciple, let him deny himself — that is,
disregard, lose sight of and forget himself and his own
interests — and take up his cross and follow Me [*cleave
steadily to Me, conform wholly to My example in living
and if need be in dying, also].
* Williams: “Perfect passive participle, so things in a state of having been
already forbidden [or pemmitted].”
1 Cremer. m Vincent. 2 Thayer.
MATTHEW 17 63
25 For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal]
life [his comfort and security here], shall lose [eternal
life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security
here] for My sake, shall find [life everlasting].
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the
whole world and forfeits his life — his [blessed] ‘life in
the kingdom of God? Or what would a man give as
an exchange for his [blessed] ‘life—in the kingdom
of God?
27 For the Son of man is going to come in the
glory (majesty, splendor) of His Father, with His angels,
and then He will render account and reward every man
in accordance with what he has done.
28 ‘Truly, I tell you, there are some standing here
who will not taste of death before they see the Son of
man coming in Cinto) His kingdom.
CHAPTER 17
ND six days after this Jesus took with Him Peter
and James and John his brother, and led them up
on a high mountain by themselves.
2 And His appearance underwent a change in their
presence, and His face shone “clear and bright like the
sun, and His clothing became white as light.
3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and
Elijah, who kept talking with Him.
4 ‘Then Peter began to speak and said to Jesus, Lord,
it is good and delightful that we are here; if You approve,
1 Thayer. κε Cremer.
64 MATTHEW 17
I will put up three booths here, one for You and one
for Moses and one for Elijah.
5 While he was still speaking, lo, a shining cloud
Cicomposed of light) overshadowed them, and a voice
from the cloud said, This is My Son, My Beloved, with
Whom I am [and ‘have always been] delighted. Listen
to Him! [Is. 42:1; Ps. 2:7.]
6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces
and were ‘seized with alarm and struck with fear.
7 But Jesus came and touched them, and said, Get
up, and do not be afraid.
8 And when they raised their eyes they saw no one
but Jesus only.
9 And as they were going down the mountain, Jesus
cautioned and commanded them, Do not mention to any
one what you have seen, until the Son of man is raised
from the dead.
10 The disciples asked Him, Then why do the
scribes say that first Elijah must come?
11 He replied, Elijah does come and will get every-
thing restored and ready;
12 But I tell you that Elijah has come already, and
they did not know or recognize him, but did to him as
they liked. So also the Son of man is going to be treated
and suffer at their hands.
13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to
them about John the Baptist. [Mal. 4:5.]
14 And when they approached the multitude, a man
came up to Him, kneeling before Him and saying,
1 Thayer. κ Williams: ‘‘suggested by the aorist.”’
MATTHEW 17 65
15 Lord, do pity and have mercy on my son, for he
has epilepsy Cis 3moon-struck) and he suffers terribly, for
frequently he falls into the fre, and many times into the
water.
16 And I brought him to Your disciples, and they
were not able to cure him.
17 And Jesus answered, O you unbelieving (*warp-
ed, wayward, rebellious) and 'thoroughly perverse gen-
eration! How long am I to remain with your How
long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to Me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out
of him; and the boy was cured instantly.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked pri-
vately, Why could we not drive it out?
20 He said to them, Because of the littleness of your
faith — that is, your lack of ™frmly relying trust. For
truly, I say to you, if you have faith [*that is living] like
a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain,
Move from here to yonder place, and it will move, and
nothing will be impossible to you.
21 But this kind does not go out except by prayer
and fasting.
22 When they were going about here and there in
Galilee, Jesus said to them, The Son of man is going to
be turned over to the hands of men.
23 And they will kill Him, and He will rise [to life]
1 Thayer: ‘Epilepsy being supposed to return and increase with the in-
ctease of the moon.” kVincent. ! Literally, ‘‘throughout” (dia).
™Cremer. OW illiams.
66 MATTHEW 18
again on the third day. And they were deeply and ex-
ceedingly grieved and distressed.
24 When they arrived in Capernaun, the collectors
of the half-shekel [the temple tax] went up to Peter
and said, Does not your Teacher pay the half-shekel?
[Εχ. 30:13; 38:26]
25 He answered, Yes. And when he came home,
Jesus spoke to him [about it] first, saying, What do you
think, Simon? From whom do earthly rulers collect
duties or tribute? from their own sons or from others
Inot of their own family?
26 And when Peter said, From other people — /not of
their own family — Jesus said to him, Then the sons are
exempt.
27 However, in order not to give offense and cause
them to stumble — that is, 4to judge unfavorably and un-
justly — go down to the sea and throw in a hook; take the
first sh that comes up, and when you open its mouth
you will find there a shekel. Take it and give it to
them to pay the temple tax for Me and for yourself.
CHAPTER 18
T that time the disciples came up and asked Jesus,
Who then is [really] the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven?
2 And He called a little child to Him and put him
in the midst of them,
3 And said, Truly, I say to you, unless you repent
(change, turn about) and become like little children
Thayer.
MATTHEW 18 67
[trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] you can never enter
the kingdom of heaven at all.
4 Whoever will humble himself therefore, and _ be-
comes [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] as this little
child, is greatest in the kingdom of heaven;
5 And whoever receives and accepts and welcomes
one little child like this for My sake and in My name
receives and accepts and welcomes Me.
6 But whoever causes one of these little ones who
belicve in and “acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble
and sin —that is, who entices him, or hinders him in
right conduct or thought — it would be better (’more ex-
pedient and profitable or advantageous) for him to have
a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be
sunk in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe to the world for such temptations to sin and
influences to do wrong! It is necessary that temptations
come, but woe to the person on whose account or by
whom the temptation comes!
8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to
stumble and sin, cut it off and throw it away from you;
it is better (more prohtable and wholesome) for you to
enter life maimed or lame than with two hands or two
feet to be thrown into everlasting fire.
9 And if your eye causes you to stumble and sin,
pluck it out and throw it away from you; it is better,
Cmore profitable and wholesome) for you to enter life
with only one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into
the hell CGehenna) of fre.
«Cremer. bAbbott-Smith.
68 MATTHEW 18
10 Beware that you do not despise or feel scornful
toward or think little of one of these little ones, for I
tell you that in heaven their angels always are in the
presence of and look upon the face of My Father Who
is in heaven.
11 For the Son of man came to save ("from the
penalty of eternal death) that which was lost.
12 What do you think? Jf a man has a hundred
sheep, and one of them has gone astray and gets lost,
will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and
go in search of the one that is lost?
13 And if it should be that he finds it, truly I say
to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine
that did not get lost.
14 Just so it is not the will of My Father Who is in
heaven that one of these little ones should be lost and
perish.
15 If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his
fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to
you, you have won back your brother.
16 But if he does not listen, take along with you
one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed
and upheld by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
17 [ΙΕ he pays no attention to them — refusing to listen
and obey —tell it to the church; and if he refuses to
listen even to the church, let him be to you as a pagan
and a tax collector. [Lev. 19:17; Deut. 19:15.]
18 ‘Truly, I tell you, whatever you forbid and de-
clare to be improper avd unlawful on earth must be
*Cremer.
MATTHEW 18 69
bwhat is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you
permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be
balready permitted in heaven.
19 Again I tell vou, if two of you agree Charmonize
together, together make a symphony) about — anything
and ‘everything — whatever they shall ask, it will come
to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.
20 For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn
together as My followers) in Ginto) My name, there
I AM in the midst of them. [Ex. 3:14.]
21 ‘Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how
many times may my brother sin against me, and | forgive
him and ‘let it go? As many as up to seven times?
22 Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven
times, but seventy times seven! [Gen. 4:24.]
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a human
king who wished to settle accounts with his attendants.
24 When he began the accounting, one was brought
to him who owed him ten thousand talents [probably
about $10,000,000],
25 And because he could not pay, his master ordered
him to be sold, with his wife and his children and
everything that he possessed, and payment to be made.
26 So the attendant fell on his knees, begging him,
Have patience with me and I will pay you everything.
27 And his master’s heart was moved with compas-
sion, and he released him and forgave him (cancelling)
the debt.
28 But that same attendant, as he went out, found
one of his fellow attendants who owed him a hundred
bWilliams: See footnote on Mt. 16:19. ‘Wycliffe. dThayer.
70 MATTHEW 19
denarii [about twenty dollars]; and he caught him by
the throat and said, Pay what you owe!
29 So his fellow attendant fell down and begged him
earnestly, Give me time, and I will pay you all!
30 But he was unwilling and went out and had him
put in prison till he should pay the debt.
31 When his fellow attendants saw what had hap-
pened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and
told everything that had taken place to their master.
32 Then his master called him and said to him, You
contemptible and wicked attendant! I forgave and can-
celled all that [great] debt of yours because you begged
me;
33 And should you not have had pity and mercy on
your fellow attendant, as 1 had pity avd mercy on you?
34 And in wrath his master turned him over to the
torturers (the jailers), till he should pay all that he owed.
35 So also My heavenly Father will deal with every
one of you, if you do not freely forgive your brother from
your heart his offenses.
CHAPTER 19
OW when Jesus had finished saying these things, he
left Galilee and went into the part of Judea that
is beyond the Jordan;
2 And great throngs accompanied Him, and He
cured them there.
3 And Pharisees came to Him and put Him to the
test by asking, Is it lawful and right to dismiss and re-
pudiate and divorce one’s wife for any and *every cause?
*Vincent.
MATTHEW 19 71
4 He replied, Have you never read that He Who
made them from the beginning made them male and
female,
5 And said, For this reason a man shall leave his
father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined in-
separably)) to his wife, and the two shall become one
flesh? [Gen. 1:27; 2:24.]
6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What
therefore God has joined together, let not man put
asunder (separate).
7 They said to Him, Why then did Moses command
[us] to give a certificate of divorce, and thus to dismiss
and repudiate a wife? [Deut. 24:1-4.]
8 He said to them, Because of the hardness (Cstub-
bornness and perversity) of your hearts Moses permitted
you to dismiss and repudiate and divorce your wives; but
from the beginning it has not been ‘so [ordained].
9 I say to you: whoever dismisses (repudiates, di-
vorces) his wife, except for unchastity, and marries an-
other, commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced
woman commits adultery.
10 The disciples said to Him, If the case of a man
with his wife is like that, it is neither profitable nor ad-
visable to marry.
11 But He said to them, Not all men can accept
this saying, but it is for those to whom [the capacity to
receive] it has been given.
12 For there are eunuchs who have been born in-
capable of marriage, and there are eunuchs who have
been made so by men, and there are eunuchs who have
tThayer.
72 MATTHEW 19
made themselves incapable of marriage for the sake of
the kingdom of heaven. Let him who is able to accept
this, accept it.
13 Then little children were brought to Jesus that
He might put His hands on them and pray, but the
disciples rebuked those who brought them.
14 But He said, Leave the children alone! Allow
the little ones to come to Me, and do not forbid or re-
strain or hinder them, for of such [as these] the kingdom
of heaven is composed.
15 And He put His hands upon them, and then
went His way.
16 And behold, there came a man up to Hin, say-
ing, Teacher, what excellent, and perfectly and essential-
ly good deed must I do to possess eternal life? [Lev.
18:5.]
17 And He said to him, Why do you ask Me about
the perfectly and essentially good? One only there is
who is good — perfectly and essentially; God. If you
would enter into the Life, you must continually keep the
commandments.
18 He said to Him, What "sort of commandments?
— Or, which ones? And Jesus answered, You shall not
kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal,
You shall not bear false witness, [Ex. 20:12-16; Deut.
5: 16-20.]
19 Honor your father and your mother, and, You
shall love your neighbor as yourself. [Lev. 19:18.]
20 The young man said, I have observed all these
from my youth; what still do I lack?
« Williams: ‘‘Interrogative of quality.”
MATTHEW 19 73
21 Jesus answered him, If you would be perfect [that
is, 'have that spiritual maturity which accompanies self-
sacrificing character], go and sell what you have and give
to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; and
come, ™be My disciple — side with My party and follow
Me.
22 But when the young man heard this, he went
away sad (grieved and in much distress), for he had great
possessions.
23 And Jesus said to His disciples, Truly, I say to
you, it will be dificult for a rich man to get into the
kingdom of heaven.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go
into the kingdom of heaven.
25 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly
puzzled (astonished, bewildered), saying, Who then can
be saved ["from eternal death]?
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, With men
this is impossible, but all things are possible with God.
[Gen. 18:14; Job 42:2.]
27 Then Peter answered Him saying, Lo, we have
left [our] all and have become "Your disciples — sided
with Your party and followed You. What then shall we
receive?
28 Jesus said to them, Truly, I say to you, in the
new age —the °Messianic rebirth of the world — when
the Son of man shall sit down on the throne of His glory,
you [who have become My disciples, sided with My
1 Wuest. m Thayer. ἢ Cremer, ο Meulton and Milligan.
74 MATTHEW 20
party and followed Me] will also sit on twelve thrones
and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And any one and every one who has left houses
or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or
lands for My name's sake, will receive “many — even a
hundred — times more, and inherit eternal life.
30 But many that [now] are first will be last [then],
and many who [now] are last will be first [then].
CHAPTER 20
OR the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an
estate who went out in the morning Palong with
the dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.
2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a
day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3. And going out about the third hour (nine o'clock)
he saw others standing idle in the market place;
4 And he said to them, You go also into the vineyard,
and whatever is right I will pay you. And they went.
5 He went out again about the sixth hour (noon),
and the ninth hour Cthree o'clock) he did the same.
6 And about the eleventh hour Cfive o'clock) he
went out and found still others standing around, and
said to them, Why do you stand here idle all day?
7 They answered him, Because nobody has hired us.
He told them, You go out into the vineyard also and
you will get whatever is just and fair.
8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard
said to his manager, Call the workmen and pay them
© Some ancient authorities read ‘‘manifold.” P Vincent.
MATTHEW 20 75
their wages, beginning with the last and ending with
the first. [Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:15.]
9 And they who had been hired at the eleventh hour
Chive o'clock) came, and received a denarius each.
10 Now when the first came, they supposed they
would get more, but each of them also received a den-
arius.
11 And when they received it they grumbled at the
owner of the estate,
12 Saying, These who came last worked no more
than an hour, and yet you have made them rank with
us who have borne the burden and the ?scorching heat
of the day.
13. But he answered one of them, Friend, I am doing
you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a
denarius?
14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to
give to this man hired last the same as I give tu you.
15 Am I not permitted to do what I choose with
what is mine? Or do you begrudge my being gen-
erous? Is your eye evil because I am good?
16 So those who [now] are last will be frst [then],
and those who [now] are first will be last [then]. For
many are called, but few chosen.
17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took
the twelve disciples aside along the way, and said to
them,
18 Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the
Son of man will be handed over to the chief priests and
scribes and they will sentence Him to death,
>» Vincent.
76 MATTHEW 20
19 And deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be
mocked and whipped and crucified, and He will be
raised [to life] on the third day.
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s children came up
to Him with her sons, and kneeling, worshipped Him and
asked a favor of Him.
21 And He asked her, What do you wish? She
answered Him, Give orders that these two sons of mine
may sit, one at Your right hand and one at Your left
in Your kingdom.
22 But Jesus replied, You do not realize what you
are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am
about to drink and to be baptized with the baptism with
which I am baptized? They answered, We are able.
23 He said to them, You will drink My cup, but
seats at My right hand and at My left are not Mine
to give, but they are for those for whom they have been
"ordained and prepared by My Father.
24 But when the ten [other disciples] heard this,
they were indignant at the two brothers.
25 And Jesus called them to Him and said, You
know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and their great men hold them in subjection, tyrannizing
over them.
26 Not so shall it be among you; but whoever wishes
to be great among you must be your servant,
27 And whoever desires to be first among you must
be your slave;
28 Just as the Son of man came not to be waited on
® Thayer.
MATTHEW 21 77
but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many —
the price paid to set them free.
29 And as they were going out of Jericho, a great
throng accompanied Him.
30 And behold, two blind men were sitting by the
roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing
by, they cried out, Lord, have pity and mercy on us,
[You] Son of David!
31 The crowds reproved them and told them to keep
still; but they cried out the more, Lord, have pity and
mercy on us, [You] Son of David!
32 And Jesus stopped and called them, and asked,
What do you want Me to do for you?
33 They answered Him, Lord, we want our eyes to
be opened!
34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and in-
stantly they received their sight and followed Him.
CHAPTER 21
fa when they came near Jerusalem and had reached
Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two
disciples on ahead,
2 Saying to them, Go into the village that is oppo-
site you, and at once you will find a donkey tied, and a
colt with her; untie her and bring them to Me.
3 If any one says anything to you, you shall reply,
The Lord needs them, and he will let them go without
delay.
4 This happened that what was spoken by the
prophet might be fulfilled, saying,
5 Say to the daughter of Zion [inhabitants of Jeru-
78 MATTHEW 21
salem], Behold your King is coming to you, lowly and
riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey
[a beast of burden]. [Is. 62:11; Zech. 9:9.]
6 Then the disciples went and did as Jesus had di-
rected them.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt and laid
their coats upon them, and He seated Himself on [the
clothing].
8 And most of the crowd kept spreading their gar-
ments on the road, and others kept cutting branches
from the trees and scattering them on the road.
9 And the crowds that went ahead of Him and those
that followed Him kept shouting, Hosanna (Ὁ be pro-
pitious, graciously inclined) to the Son of David, *the
Messiah! Blessed (praised, glorified) be He Who comes
in the name of the Lord! Hosanna (O be favorably
disposed) in the highest Cheaven)! [Ps. 118:26.]
10 And when He entered Jerusalem, all the city
became agitated, and "trembling with excitement said,
Who is *This?
11 And the crowds replied, This is the prophet Jesus
from Nazareth of Galilee.
12 And Jesus went into the temple (‘whole temple
enclosure) and drove out all who bought and sold in
the "sacred place, and He turned over the *four-footed
tables of the money-changers and the chairs of those who
sold pigeons.
13 He said to them, The Scripture says, My house
®Thayer. bLiteral meaning.
¢Trench’s “Synonyms of the New Testament.” “Moulton and Milligan.
Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speakers may have
thought Him to be.
MATTHEW 21 79
shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it
a den of robbers. [Is. 56:7; Jer. 7:11.]
14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in
the *porches and courts of the temple, and He cured
them.
15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the
wonderful things that He did, and the boys and the girls
and the fyouths and the maidens crying out in the
‘porches and courts of the temple, Hosanna (Ὁ be
propitious, graciously inclined) to the Son of David!
they were indignant.
16 And they said to Him, Do You hear what these
are saying? And Jesus replied to them, Yes; have you
never read, Out of the mouths of children and infants
You have made (provided) perfect praise? [Ps. 8:2.]
17 And leaving them, He departed from the city and
went out to Bethany and lodged there.
18 In the early dawn next morning, as He was com-
ing back to the city He was hungry.
19 And as He saw £one single leafy fig tree "above
the roadside He went to it [‘seeing that in the fig tree
the fruit appears at the same time as the leaves], but
He found nothing but leaves on it. And He said to it,
Never again shall fruit grow on you! And the fg tree
withered up at once.
20 When the disciples saw it they marveled greatly
and asked, How is it that the fig tree has withered away
all at once?
¢ Trench’s “Synonyms of the New Testament.” f Abbott-Smith.
4 Literal meaning. b Thayer.
1 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
80 MATTHEW 21
21 And Jesus answered them, Truly, I say to you,
if you have faith—a frm relying trust —and do not
doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the
fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken
up and cast into the sea, it will be done.
22 And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith
and [really] believing, you will receive.
23 And when He entered the sacred *enclosure of
the temple, the chief priests and elders of the people
came up to Him as He was teaching and said, By what
‘power of authority are you doing these things, and who
gave you this power of authority?
24 Jesus answered them, I also will ask you a ques-
tion, and if you give Me the answer, then I also will
tell you by what ‘power of authority I do these things.
25 ‘The baptism of John, from whence was it? From
heaven or from men? And they reasoned and argued
with one another, If we say, From heaven, 4He will ask
us, Why then did you not believe him?
26 But if we say, From men, we are afraid of and
must reckon with the multitude; for they all regard John
as a prophet.
27 So they answered Jesus, We do not know. And
He said to them, Nor will I tell you by what ‘power of
authority I do these things.
28 What do you think? There was a man who had
two sons. He came to the first and said, Son, go and
work today in the vineyard.
"Trench. » Cremer. ¢ Tha
ayer
4 Capitalized because of what He is, not for what the speakers may have
thought He was.
MATTHEW 21 8]
29 And he answered, I will not; but afterward he
changed his mind and went.
30 Then the man-came to the second and said the
same [thing], and he replied, I will [go], sir; but he did
not go.
31 Which of the two did the will of the father?
They replied, The first one. Jesus said to them, Truly,
I tell you, the tax collectors and the harlots will get into
the kingdom of heaven before you.
32 For John came to you walking in the way of an
upright man in right standing with God, and you did
not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots
did believe him; and you, even when you saw that, did
not afterward change your minds and believe him—ad-
here to, trust in and rely on what he told you.
33 Listen to another parable. There was a master of
a house who planted a vineyard, and put a hedge
around it, and dug a wine vat in it, and built a watch-
tower. Then he let it out to tenants, and went into
another country.
34 When the fruit season drew near, he sent his
servants to the tenants, to get his [share of the] fruit;
35 But the tenants took his servants and beat one,
killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again he sent other servants, more than the frst
time, and they treated them the same way.
37 Finally he sent his own son to them, saying,
They will respect and give heed to my son.
38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to
themselves, This is the heir; come on, Jet us kill him,
and have his inheritance.
82 MATTHEW 21
39 And they took him, and threw him out of the
vineyard, and killed him.
40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes
back, what will he do to those tenants?
41 They said to Him, He will put those wretches to
a miserable death, and rent the vineyard to other ten-
ants “of such a character that they will give him the fruits
promptly in their season. [Is. 5:1-7.]
42 Jesus asked them, Have you never read in the
Scriptures, The very Stone which the builders rejected
and threw away has become the Cornerstone; this was
the Lord’s doings, and it is marvelous in our eyes?
[Ps. 118:22, 23.]
43 I tell you, for this reason the kingdom of God will
be taken away from you and given to a people who will
produce the fruits of it.
44 And whoever falls on this Stone will be broken
to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed to
powder, and it will ‘winnow him, ‘scattering him as
dust. [Is. 8:14; Dan. 2:34, 35.]
45 And when the chief priests and the Pharisees
heard His parables (comparisons, stories used to illustrate
and explain), they perceived that He was talking about
them;
46 And although they were trying to arrest Him,
they feared the throngs, because they regarded Him as
a prophet.
¢ Thayer. 4Vincent.
MATTHEW 22 83
CHAPTER 22
ND again Jesus spoke to them in parables Ccompari-
sons, stories used to illustrate and explain), saying,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a
wedding banquet for his son,
3 And sent his servants to summon those who had
been invited to the wedding banquet, but they refused
to come.
4 Again he sent other servants, saying, Tell those
who are invited, Behold, I have prepared my banquet;
my bullocks and my fat calves are killed, and everything
is prepared; come to the wedding feast.
5 But they were not concerned and paid no atten-
tion —they ignored and made light of the summons,
treating it with contempt — and they went away, one to
his farm, another to his business,
6 While the others seized his servants, treated them
shamefully and put them to death.
7 [Hearing this] the king was infuriated, and he
sent his soldiers and put those murderers to death and
burned their city.
8 ‘Then he said to his servants, the wedding [feast] is
prepared, but those invited were not worthy.
9 So go to the thoroughfares where they leave the
city — where the main roads and those from the country
end — and invite to the wedding feast as many as you
find.
10 And those servants went out on the crossroads
and got together as many as they found, both bad and
good, so [the room in which] the wedding feast [was
held] was filled with guests.
84 MATTHEW 22
11 But when the king came in to view the guests, he
looked intently at a man there who had on no wedding
garment;
12 And he said, Friend, how did you come in here
without putting on the [appropriate] wedding garment?
And he was speechless (*muzzled, gagged).
13 Then the king said to the attendants, Tie him
hand and foot, and throw him into the darkness outside;
there will be weeping and the grinding of teeth.
14 For many are called (invited and summoned), but
few chosen.
15 ‘Then the Pharisees went and consulted and plot-
ted together how they might entangle Jesus in His talk.
16 And they sent their disciples to Him, along with
the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that you are
fsincere and what you profess to be, and that you teach
the way of God truthfully, regardless of consequences and
being afraid of no man; for you are impartial and do not
regard either the person or the position of any one.
17 Tell us, then, what you think about this: Is it
lawful to pay tribute [levied on individuals and to be
paid yearly] to Caesar, or not?
18 But Jesus, aware of their malicious plot, asked,
Why do you put Me to the test and try to entrap Me,
you pretenders — hypocrites?
19 Show me the money for the tribute. And they
brought Him a denarius.
20 And Jesus said to them, Whose likeness and title
are these?
21 They said, Caesar’s. Then He said to them, Pay
® Literal translation. f Cremer.
MATTHEW 22 85
therefore to Caesar the things that are due to Caesar, and
pay to God the things that are due to God.
22 When they heard it they were amazed and mar-
veled, and they left Him and departed.
23 The same day some Sadducees came to Him,
who say that there is no resurrection [of the dead],
and they asked Him a question,
24 Saying, Teacher, Moses said, If a man dies, leav-
ing no children, his brother shall marry the widow and
raise up a family for his brother. [Deut. 25:5.]
25 Now there were seven brothers among us; the
first married and died, and having no children left his
wife to his brother.
26 The second also died childless, and the third,
down to the seventh.
27 Last of all, the woman died also.
28 Now in the resurrection to which of the seven
will she be wife? For they all had hex.
29 But Jesus replied to them, You are wrong, be-
cause you know neither the Scriptures nor God’s power.
30 For in the resurrected state neither do [men]
marry nor are [women] given in marriage, but they are
as the angels in heaven.
31 But as to the resurrection of the dead, have you
never read what was said to you by God,
32 Iam the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead,
but of the living! [Ex. 3:6.]
33 And when the throng heard it, they were aston-
ished and filled with [¢glad] amazement at His teaching.
® Thayer.
86 MATTHEW 22
34 Now when the Pharisees heard that He had
silenced (*muzzled) the Sadducees, they gathered to-
gether;
35 And one of their number, a lawyer, asked Him a
question to test Him.
36 Teacher, which >kind of commandment is great
and important — the principal kind — in the Law? [Some
are light; which are heavy?]
37 And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your mind Cintellect). [Deut. 6:5.]
38 This is the great (most important, principal) and
first commandment.
39 And a second is like it, You shall love your neigh-
bor as [you do] yourself. [Lev. 19:18.]
40 These two commandments ‘sum up and upon
them depends all the Law and the prophets.
41 Now while the Pharisees were still assembled
there, Jesus asked them a question,
42 Saying, What do you think of the Christ? Whose
Son is He? They said to Him, the Son of David.
43 He said to them, How is it then that David,
under the influence of the (Holy) Spirit, calls Him
Lord, saying,
44 The Lord said to My Lord, Sit at My right hand
until I put Your enemies under Your feet? [Ps. 110:1.]
45 If then David thus calls Him Lord, how is He
His Son?
46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor
4 Literal translation. b Vincent. ¢ Thayer.
MATTHEW 23 87
from that day did any one venture or dare to question
Him.
CHAPTER 23
HEN Jesus said to the multitudes and to His
disciples,
2 The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat [of
authority ],
3. So observe and practise all they tell you; but
do not do what they do, for they preach, but do not
practise.
4 They tie up heavy loads, hard to bear, and place
them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not
lift a finger to help bear them.
5 They do all their works to be seen of men; for
they make wide their phylacteries [small cases enclosing
certain Scripture passages, worn during prayer on left
arm and forehead}, and make long their fringes [worn
by all male Israelites, according to the command].
[Num. 15:38; Ex. 13:9; Deut. 6:8.]
6 And they ‘take pleasure in and [thus] love the place
of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues,
7 And to be greeted with honor in the market places,
and to have people call them rabbi.
8 But you are not to be called rabbi (teacher), for
One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 And do not call any one [in the church] on earth
father, for you have one Father, Who is in heaven.
10 And you must not be called masters (leaders),
for you have one Master (Leader), the Christ.
4 Condensed from ‘‘Davis Dictionary of the Bible.” © Wuest.
88 MATTHEW 23
11 He who is greatest among you shall be your
servant.
12 Whoever exalts himself [*with haughtiness and
empty pride] shall be humbled (brought low); and who-
ever liumbles himself — who has a modest opinion of
himself and behaves accordingly —shall be ‘raised to
honor.
13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders
— hypocrites! because you shut the kingdom of heaven in
men’s faces; for you neither enter yourselves, nor do you
allow those who are about to go in to do so.
14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders —
hypocrites! for you swallow up widows’ houses, and for
a pretense to cover it up make long prayers; therefore
you will receive the greater condemnation and the
heavier sentence.
15 Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, pretenders —
hypocrites! for you travel over sea and land to make a
single proselyte, and when he becomes [a proselyte], you
make him doubly as much a child of hell CGehenna) as
you are.
16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, If any one
swears by the sanctuary of the temple, it is nothing;
but if any one swears by the gold of the ¢sanctuary, he
is a debtor — bound by his oath.
17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold
or the ‘sanctuary of the temple that has made the gold
sacred? [Ex. 30:29.]
18 You say too, Whoever swears by the altar is not
4Thayer. ®Trench.
MATTHEW 23 89
duty bound, but whoever swears by the offering on the
altar, his oath is binding.
19 You blind men! Which is greater, the gift or
the altar which makes the gift sacred?
20 So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and
by everything on it;
21 And he who swears by the ‘sanctuary of the tem-
ple, swears by it and by Him Who dwells in it;
[I Kin. 8:13; Ps. 26:8.]
22 And whoever swears by heaven, swears by the
throne of God and by Him Who sits upon it.
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders —
hypocrites! for you give a tenth of your mint and dill
and cummin, and have neglected and omitted the
weightier (more important) matters of the Law, right
and justice and mercy and fidelity. These you ought
[particularly] to have done, without neglecting the others.
24 You blind guides, filtering out a gnat and gulping
down a ‘camel! [Lev. 27:30; Mic. 6:8.]
25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders —
hypocrites! for you clean the outside of the cup and of
the platter, but within they are full of extortion — prey,
spoil, plunder — and grasping self-indulgence.
26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the
cup and of the plate, so that the outside may be clean
also.
27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders —
hypocrites! for you are like tombs that have been white-
washed, which look beautiful on the outside, but inside
are full of dead men’s bones and everything impure.
t The camel] was also unclean (Lev. 11:4).
90 MATTHEW 23
28 Just so, you also outwardly seem to people to be
just and upright, but inside you are full of pretense
and lawlessness and iniquity. [Ps. 5:9.]
29 Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, pretenders —
hypocrites! for you build tombs for the prophets and
decorate the monuments of the righteous,
30 Saying, If we had lived in the days of our fore-
fathers, we would not have aided them in shedding the
blood of the prophets.
31 Thus you are testifying [against] yourselves that
you are the descendants of those who murdered the
prophets.
32 Fill up then the measure of your fathers’ sins to
the brim [so *that nothing may be wanting to a full
measure |.
33 You serpents! You spawn of vipers! How can
you escape the "penalty to be suffered in hell CGehenna)?
34 Because of this, take notice, I am sending you
prophets and wise men Cinterpreters and teachers) and
scribes (men learned in the Mosaic Law and the
prophets); some of them you will kill, even crucify, and
some you will flog in your synagogues, and pursue and
persecute from town to town,
35 So that upon your heads may come all the blood
of the righteous [those who correspond to the divine
standard of right] shed on earth from the blood of the
righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah,
whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar
[of burnt offering]. [Gen. 4:8; II Chron. 24:21.]
«Thayer. bAbbott-Smith.
MATTHEW 24 91
36 Truly, I declare to you, all these [‘evil, calamitous
times] will come upon this generation. [II Chron.
36:15, 16.]
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, murdering the prophets
and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would
Ι have gathered your children together as a mother fowl
gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused!
38 Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate —
abandoned and left destitute [of God’s help]. [I Kin.
9:7; Jer. 22:5.]
39 For I declare to you, you will not see Me again
until you say, Blessed — magnified in worship, adored
and exalted — be He Who comes in the name of the
Lord! [Ps. 118:26.]
CHAPTER 24
͵ departed from the temple 4area and was going
on His way, when His disciples came up to Him to
call His attention to the buildings of the temple and
point them out to Him.
2 But He answered them, Do you see all these?
Truly, I tell you, there will not Le left here one stone
upon another that will not be thrown down.
3 While He was seated on the Mount of Olives,
the disciples came to Him privately and said, Tell us,
when will this take place, and what will be the sign of
Your coming and of the end — that is, the completion,
the consummation — of the age?
4 Jesus answered them, Be careful that no one
misleads you — deceiving you and leading you into error.
© Thayer. dTrench’s Synonyms of the New Testament.”
92 MATTHEW 24
5 For many will come in (on the strength of) My
name — "appropriating the name which belongs to Me
— saying, I am the Messiah, the Christ; and they will
lead many astray.
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars;
see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must
take place, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom, and there will be famines and earth-
quakes in place after place;
8 All this is but the beginning — the early pains of
the birth pangs — of the *intolerable anguish.
9 Then they will hand you over to suffer affliction
and tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be
hated by all nations for My name's sake.
10 And then many will be offended and repelled
and "begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought
to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away, and
betray one another and pursue one another with hatred.
11 And many false prophets will rise up and deceive
and lead many into error.
12 And the love of ‘the great body of people will
grow cold, because of the multiplied lawlessness aid
iniquity.
13 But he who endures to the end will be saved.
14 And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel)
will be preached throughout the whole world as a testi-
mony to all the nations, and then will come the end.
15 So when you see the appalling sacrilege spoken
* Thayer. ΒΓ iteral translation. c¢Vincent,
MATTHEW 24 93
of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place,
[and] let the reader take notice and "ponder and con-
sider and heed [this], [Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11.]
16 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains;
17 Let him who is on the housetop not come down
and go into the house to take anything;
18 And let him who is in the field not turn back
to get his overcoat.
19 And alas for the women who are pregnant and
for those who have nursing babies in those days!
20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on
a Sabbath,
21 For then there will be great tribulation — afflic-
tion, distress and oppression — such as has not been from
the beginning of the world until now; no, and never
will be [again]. [Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:2.]
22 And if those days had not been shortened, no
human being would endure and survive; but for the sake
of the elect CGod’s chosen ones) those days will be
shortened.
23 If any one says to you then, Lo, here is Christ,
the Messiah! or, There He is! do not believe it.
24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise,
and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to
deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (God's
chosen ones).
25 See, I have warned you beforehand.
26 So if they say to you, Lo, He is in the wilderness
"Thayer,
94 MATTHEW 24
Cdesert), do not go out there; if they tell you, Lo, He
is in the secret places or inner rooms, do not believe it.
27 For just as the lightning flashes from the east
and shines and "is seen as far as the west, so will the
coming of the Son of man be.
28 Wherever there is a fallen body (a corpse), there
the vultures Cor eagles) will flock together. [Job 39:30.]
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days
the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed
her light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the
powers of the heavens will be shaken. [Is. 13:10; 34:4;
Joel 2:10, 11; Zeph. 1:15.]
30 Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in
the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn
and *beat their breasts and lament in anguish, and they
will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory — in brilliancy and splendor.
[Dan. 7:13.]
31 And He will send out His angels with a loud
trumpet call, and they will gather His elect [His chosen
ones] from the four winds, [even] from one end of the
‘universe to the other. [Is. 27:13; Zech. 9:14.]
32 From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its
byoung shoots become soft and tender and it puts out
its leaves, you know “of a surety that summer is near.
33 So also when you see these signs “all taken
together coming to pass, you may know 4of a surety
that He is near, at the very doors.
34 Truly, I tell you, this generation — that is, ‘the
whole multitude of people living at the same time, “ἴῃ a
Ὁ Vincent. ¢ Abbott-Smith. 4 Thayer. 9 Cremer.
MATTHEW 24 95
definite, ‘given period — will not pass away till all these
things taken together take place.
35. 4Sky and earth will pass away, but My words
will not pass away.
36 But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows,
not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only
the Father.
37 As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming
of the Son of man.
38 For just as in those days before the flood they
were eating and drinking, [men] marrying and [women]
being given in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah
went into the ark,
39 And they did not know or understand until the
flood came and swept them all away, so will be the
coming of the Son of man. [Gen. 6:5-8; 7:6-24.]
40 At that time two (men) will be in the field; one
will be taken and one will be left.
41 ‘Two Cwomen) will be grinding at the hand mill;
one will be taken and one will be left.
42 Watch, therefore — give strict attention, be cautious
and active — for you do not know in what kind of a day
[‘whether a near or remote one] your Lord is coming.
43 But understand this: that had the householder
known in what [part of the night, whether in a ‘night or
a morning] watch the thief was coming, he would have
watched and would not have allowed his house to be
Jundermined and broken through.
t Abbort-Smith. 8 Thayer. h Moulton and Milligan.
1 Vincent. I Wycliffe.
96 MATTHEW 25
44 You also must be ready therefore; for the Son of
man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.
45 Who then is the faithful, thoughtful and wise
servant, whom his master has put in charge of his house-
hold, to give to the others the food and supplies at the
proper time?
46 Blessed — happy, fortunate and “to be envied — is
that servant whom when his master comes he will find
so doing.
47 I solemnly declare to you, he will set him over
all his possessions.
48 But if that servant is wicked and says to himself,
My master is delayed and is going to be gone a long
time,
49 And begins to beat his fellow servants, and to
eat and drink with the drunken,
50 The master of that servant will come on a day
when he does not expect him and at an hour of which
he is not aware,
51 And will punish him —!cut him up [by scourg-
ing] —and put him with the pretenders Chypocrites);
there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
CHAPTER 25
HEN the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten
virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the
bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish — thoughtless, without
forethought; and five were wise — sensible, intelligent
and prudent.
* Souter. 1 Thayer.
MATTHEW 25 97
3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they did
not take any [extra] oil with them;
4 But the wise took flasks of oil along with them
[also] with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom lingered and was slow in
coming, they all began nodding their heads and fell
asleep.
6 But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the
bridegroom! Go out to meet him!
7 Then all those virgins got up and put their own
lamps in order.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of
vour oil, for our lamps are going out.
9 But the wise replied, There will not be enough
for us and for you; go instead to the dealers and buy for
yourselves.
10 But while they were gone away to buy, the bride-
groom came, and those who were prepared went in with
him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut.
11 Later the other virgins also came, and said, Lord,
Lord, open [the door] to us!
12 But He replied, I solemnly declare to you, I do
not know you —I am not acquainted with you.
13 Watch therefore — give strict attention and be
cautious and active — for you know neither the day nor
the hour when the Son of man will come.
14 For it is as a man who was about to take a long
journey, and he called his servants together and en-
trusted them with his property.
15 To one he gave five talents [probably about
$5,000], to another two, to another one; to each in
98 MATTHEW 25
proportion to his own personal ability. ‘Then he de-
parted and left the country.
16 He who had received the five talents went at once
and traded with them, and he gained five talents more.
17 And likewise he who had received the two talents;
he also gained two talents more.
18 But he who had received the one talent went and
dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those ser-
vants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had received the five talents came
and brought him five more, saying, Master, you entrusted
to me five talents; see, here I have gained five talents
more.
21 His master said to him, Well done, you upright
Chonorable, ‘admirable) and faithful servant! You have
been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put
you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy —
the delight, the “blessedness — which your master [enjoys].
22 And he also who had the two talents came for-
ward, saying, Master, you entrusted two talents to me;
here 1 have gained two talents more.
23 His master said to him, Well done, you upright
Chonorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have
been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you
in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy — the
delight, the “blessedness — which your master [enjoys].
24 He who had received one talent also came for-
ward, saying, Master, 1 knew you to be a harsh and
bVincent. ¢Cremer. 4Thayer.
MATTHEW 25 99
hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering
where you had not winnowed [the grain];
25 So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent
in the ground. Here you have what is your own.
26 But his master answered him, You wicked and
lazy and idle servant! Did you indeed know that I reap
where I have not sowed, and gather grain where I have
not winnowed?
27 ‘Then you should have invested my money with
the bankers, and at my coming I could have received
what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent away from him, and give it to
the one who has the ten talents.
29 For to every one who has will more be given,
and he will be *furnished richly so that he will have
abundance.
30 And throw the good-for-nothing servant into the
outer darkness; there will be weeping and grinding of
teeth.
31 When the Son of man comes in His glory CHis
majesty and splendor) and all the holy angels with Him,
then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
32 All nations shall be gathered before Him, and
He will separate [the people] them from one an-
other as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats,
(Ezek. 34:17.]
33 And He will cause the sheep to stand at His
right hand, but the goats at His left.
34 Then the King will say to those at His right
hand, Come, you blessed of My Father [that is, you
«Thayer.
100 MATTHEW 25
‘favored of God and appointed to eternal salvation],
inherit — receive as your own — the kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was
thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a
stranger and you ‘brought Me together with yourselves
and welcomed and entertained and ®lodged Me;
36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and
you visited Me ®with help and ministering care; I was
in prison and you came to see Me. [Is. 58:7.]
37 Then the just and upright will answer Him,
Lord, when did we see You hungry and gave You food,
or thirsty and gave You something to drink?
38 And when did we see You a stranger and wel-
comed and entertained You, or naked and clothed You?
39 And when did we see You sick or in prison and
came to visit You?
40 And the King will reply to them, Truly, I tell
you, in as far as you did it to one of the least [‘in the
estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it to
Me. [Prov. 19:17.]
41 Then He will say to those at His left hand, Be
gone from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared
for the devil and his angels!
42 For I was hungry and you gave Me no food; 1
was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink;
43 1 was a stranger and you did not welcome Me and
entertain Me; I was naked and you did not clothe Me;
I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me "with
help and ministering care.
f Literal meaning. ε Tyndal
b Wuest’s ‘Treasures fons the Greek New Testament.” 1 Thayer.
MATTHEW 26 101
44 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, Lord,
when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or
naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?
45 And He will reply to them, Solemnly I declare
to you, in so far as you failed to do it for the least of these
f*in the estimation of men] you failed to do it for Me.
46 Then they will go away into eternal punishment,
but those who are just and upright and in right standing
with God into eternal life. [Dan. 12:2.]
CHAPTER 26
HEN Jesus had ended this discourse, He said to
His disciples,
2 You know that the Passover is in two days, and
the Son of man will be delivered up *treacherously to
be crucified.
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people
gathered in the ["open] court of the palace of the. high
priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
4 And consulted together in order to arrest Jesus
by stratagem secretly, and put Him to death.
5 But they said, It must not be during the feast, for
{ear there will be a riot among the people.
6 Now when Jesus came back to Bethany and was in
the house of Simon the leper,
7 A woman came up to Him with an alabaster flask
of very precious perfume, and she poured it on His head
as He reclined at table.
* Thayer. bVincent.
102 MATTHEW 26
8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indig-
nant, saying, For what purpose is all this waste?
9 For this perfume might have been sold for a
large sum, and the money given to the poor.
10 But Jesus, fully aware of this, said to them, Why
do you bother the woman? She has done a noble Cpraise-
worthy and beautiful) thing to Me.
11 For you always have the poor among you, but
you will not always have Me. [Deut. 15:11.]
12 In pouring this perfume on My body she has
done something to prepare Me for My burial.
13 Truly, I tell you, wherever this good news (the
Gospel) is preached in the whole world, what this
woman has done will be told also in memory of her.
14 Then one of the twelve [apostles], who was
called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
15 And said, What are you willing to give me if I
hand Him over to your’ And they weighed out and
paid him thirty pieces of silver [about twenty-one dollars
and sixty cents]. [Ex. 21:32; Zech. 1]:12.]
16 And from that moment he sought for a fitting
opportunity to betray Him.
17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread [ Pass-
over week], the disciples came to Jesus and said to
Him, Where do You wish us to prepare for You to
eat the passover supper?
18 He said, Go into the city to a certain man, and
say to him, The Master says, My time is near; I will
keep the passover at your house with My disciples.
19 And accordingly the disciples did as Jesus had
MATTHEW 26 103
directed them, and they made ready the passover supper.
[Deut. 16:5-8.]
20 When it was evening, He was reclining at table
with the twelve disciples;
21 And as they were eating He said, Solemnly I say
to you, one of you will betray Me!
22 They were exceedingly pained and distressed and
deeply hurt and sorrowful, and began to say to Him one
after another, Surely, it cannot be I, Lord, can it?
23 He replied, He who has [just] dipped his hand in
the same dish with Me will betray Me!
24 The Son of man is going as it is written of Him,
but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is be-
trayed! It would have been better (more profitable and
wholesome) for that man if he had never been born!
[Ps. 41:9.]
25 Judas, the betrayer, said, "Surely, it is not I, is it,
Master? He said to him, You have stated [the fact].
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of
bread, and ‘praising God gave thanks and asked Him to
bless it to their use, and when He had broken it He gave
it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.
27 And He took a cup, and when He had given
thanks He gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, all of you;
28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which
[‘raties the agreement and] is being poured out for
many for the forgiveness of sins. [Ex. 24:6-8.]
29 I say to you, I shall not drink again of this fruit
® Vincent. ¢ Thayer.
104 MATTHEW 26
of the vine until that day when I drink it with you new
and %of superior quality in My Father’s kingdom.
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out
to the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to them, You will all be offended
and stumble and fall away because of Me this night —
distrusting and deserting Me; for it is written, I will
strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be
scattered. [Zech. 13:7.]
32 But after I am raised up [to life again], I will go
ahead of you to Galilee.
33 Peter declared to Him, Though they all are
offended and stumble and fall away because of You and
distrust and desert You, I will never do so.
34 Jesus said to him, Solemnly I declare to you, this
very night before a ‘single rooster crows you will deny
and disown Me three times.
35 Peter said to Him, Even if I must die with You,
I will not deny or disown You! And all the disciples said
the same thing.
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called
Gethsemane, and He told His disciples, Sit down here,
while I go over yonder and pray.
37 And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee, He began to ‘show grief and distress of mind
and was ‘deeply depressed.
38 Then He said to them, My soul is very sad and
deeply grieved, so that "I am almost dying of sorrow.
Stay here and keep awake and watch with Me.
4 Thayer. 9 Vincent. ,
t Berry’s ‘‘Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.”
MATTHEW 26 105
39 And going a little farther, He threw Himself
upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My
Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me;
nevertheless, not what I will — not what I desire — but
as You will and desire.
40 And He came to the disciples and found them
sleeping, and He said to Peter, What! Are you so utterly
unable to stay awake and watch with Me for one hour?
41] All of you must keep awake (give strict atten-
tion, be cautious) and watch and pray that you may not
come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but
the Flesh is weak.
42 Again, a second time, he went away and prayed,
My Father, if this cannot pass by unless I drink it, Your
will be done.
43 And again He came and found them sleeping,
for their eyes were weighed down with sleep.
44 So, leaving them again, He went away and
prayed for the third time, using the same words.
+5 Then He returned to the disciples and said to
them, Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold,
the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed
into the hands of “especially wicked sinners — ‘whose way
or nature it is to act in opposition to God.
46 Get up, let us be going! See, My betrayer is at
hand!
47 As He was still speaking, Judas, one of the
twelve [apostles], came up and with him a great crowd
with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders
of the people.
4A 5bott-Smith. *Cremer.
106 MATTHEW 26
48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying,
The One I shall kiss is the Man. Seize Him.
49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, Hail
Cgreeting, good health to You, long life to You), Master!
And he ‘embraced Him and kissed Him with [pre-
tended] warmth and devotion.
50 Jesus said to him, Friend, for what are you here?
Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and arrested
Him.
51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus
reached out his hand and drew his sword, and striking
the body servant of the high priest, cut off his ear.
52 Then Jesus said to him, Put your sword back into
its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the
sword. [Gen. 9:6.]
53 Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to My
Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more
than twelve legions [more than 80,000] of angels?
54 But how then should the Scripture be fulfilled
that it must come about this way?
55 At that moment Jesus said to the crowds, Have
you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs
to capture Me? Day after day I was ‘accustomed to sit in
the Jporches and courts of the temple teaching, and
you did not arrest Me.
56 But all this has taken place in order that the
Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all
the disciples deserted Him and fleeing escaped.
57 But those who had seized Jesus took Him away to
t Meyer’s ‘“‘Commentary on Matthew.” = Wuest. bh Thayer.
4 Vincent. Trench.
MATTHEW 26 107
Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the
elders had assembled.
58 But Peter followed Him at a distance as far as
the courtyard of the high priest's home; he even went
inside and sat with the guards to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests and the whole council
[the Sanhedrin] sought to get false witnesses to testify
against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death;
60 But they found none, though many witnesses
came forward [to testify]. At last two men came forward
61] And testified, This ‘Fellow said, I am able to tear
down the ‘sanctuary of the temple of God and to build
it up again in three days.
62 And the high priest stood up and said, Have You
no answer to make? What about this that these men
testify against You?
632 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to
Him, “I call upon you to swear by the living God, and
tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.
64 Jesus said to him, ™You have stated [the fact].
More than that, I tell you, You will in the future see the
Son of man seated at the right hand of "the Almighty, and
coming on the clouds of the sky. [Dan. 7:13; Ps. 110:1.]
65 ‘Then the high priest tore his clothes and ex-
claimed, He has uttered blasphemy! What need have
we of further evidence? You have now heard His blas-
phemy. [Num. 14:6; Lev. 24:16.]
66 What do you think now? They answered, He
deserves to be put to death.
* Capitalized because of what Ele is, not what the speakers may have
thought He was. ' Trench. πὶ Vincent. n Thayer.
108 MATTHEW 27
67 Then they spat in His face, and struck Him with
their fists; and some *slapped Him in the face, [Is. 50:6.]
68 Saying, Prophesy to us, You Christ, the Messiah!
Who was it that struck Your
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard
and "one maid came up to him and said, You were also
with Jesus the Galilean!
70 But he denied it ‘falsely before them all, saying,
I do not know what you mean.
71 And when he had gone out to the porch, another
maid saw him, and she said to the bystanders, This
[fellow] was with Jesus the Nazarene!
72 And again he denied it and ‘disowned Him with
an oath, saying, I do not know the Man!
73 After a little while the bystanders came up and
said to Peter, You certainly are one of them too, for even
your accent betrays you.
74 Then Peter began to invoke a curse on himself
and to swear, I do not even know the Man! And at that
moment a rooster crowed.
75 And Peter remembered Jesus’ words when He
said, Before a *single rooster crows, you will deny and
disown Me three times. And he went outside and wept
bitterly.
CHAPTER 27
HEN it was morning, all the chief priests and the
elders of the people held a consultation against
Jesus to put Him to death;
“Thayer. Vincent. Cremer.
MATTHEW 27 109
2 And they bound Him, and led Him away and
handed Him over to Pilate the governor.
3 When Judas, His betrayer, saw that [Jesus] was
condemned, Che was “afflicted in mind and troubled for
his former folly; and) with remorse [that is, °an after care
and little more than a selfish dread of the consequences]
he brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief
priests and the elders, [Ex. 21:32.]
4 Saying, I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.
They replied, What is that to us? See to that yourself.
5 «And casting the pieces of silver [forward] into the
Holy Place of the fsanctuary of the temple, he departed,
and he went off and hanged himself.
6 But the chief priests, picking up the pieces of
silver, said, It is not legal to put these in the [consecrated ]
treasury, for it is the price of blood. [Deut. 23:18.]
7 So after consultation they bought with them the
potter's field in which to bury strangers.
8 ‘Therefore that piece of ground has been called
the Field of Blood to the present day.
9 Then were fulfilled the words spoken by Jeremiah
the prophet when he said, And they took the thirty
pieces of silver, the price of Him on Whom a price had
been set by some of the sons of Israel, [Zech. 11:12, 13.]
10 And they gave them for the potter’s field, as the
Lord directed me.
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor [Pilate];
and the governor asked Him, Are you the King of the
‘Jeremy Taylor, and, *Aristotle; both quoted in Trench’s ‘Synonyms of
the New Testament.” tTrench.
110 MATTHEW 27
Jews? Jesus said to him, You have stated [the fact].
12 But when the charges were made against Him
by the chief priests and elders, He made no answer.
[Is. 53:7.]
13 Then Pilate said to Him, Do You not hear how
many and how serious are the things they are testifying
against You?
14 But He made no reply to him, not even to a
single accusation, so that the governor marveled greatly.
15 Now at the feast Cof the Passover) the governor
was in the habit of setting free for the people any one
prisoner whom they chose.
16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner
whose name was Barabbas.
17 So when they had assembled for this purpose,
Pilate said to them, Whom do you want me to set free
for you, Barabbas, or Jesus Who is called Christ?
18 For he knew that it was because of envy that
they had handed Him over to him.
19 Also, while he was seated on the judgment bench,
his wife sent him a message, saying, Have nothing to
do with that just and upright Man, for I have had a
painful experience because of Him today in a dream.
20 But the chief priests and the elders prevailed on
the people to ask for Barabbas and put Jesus to death.
21 Again the governor said to them, Which of the
two do you wish me to release for you? And they said,
Barabbas!
22 Pilate said to them, Then what shall I do with
Jesus Who is called Christ?
23 They all replied, Let Him be crucified! And he
MATTHEW 27 11]
said, Why, what has He done that is evil? But they
shouted all the louder, Let Him be crucified!
24 So when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere,
but rather that a riot was about to break out, he took
water and washed his hands in the presence of the
crowd, saying, | am not guilty of nor responsible for this
trighteous Man’s blood; see to it yourselves. [Deut.
21:6-9; Ps. 26:6.]
25 And all the people answered, His blood be on us
and on our children! [Josh. 2:19.]
26 So he set free for them Barabbas, and [had] Jesus
whipped, and delivered Him up to be crucihed.
27 ‘Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the
palace, and they gathered the whole battalion about Him.
28 And they stripped off His clothes and put a
scarlet robe [garment of dignity and office, wern by
Roman ofhcers of rank] upon Him,
29 And weaving a crown of thorns they put it on
His head, and put a reed-staff in His right hand. And
kneeling before Him they made sport of Him, saying,
Hail (greeting, good health to you, long life to you),
King of the Jews!
30 And they spat on Him, and took the reed-staff
and struck Him on the head.
31 And when they finished making sport of Him,
they stripped Him of the robe and put His own garments
on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.
32 As they were marching forth, they came upon a
man of Cyrene named Simon; this man they forced to:
carry the cross of Jesus.
f Some authorities so read. % Trench.
112 MATTHEW 27
33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha
[Calvary, in Latin], which means the place of a skull,
34 They offered Him wine mingled with gall to
drink, but when He tasted it, He refused to drink it.
35 And when they had crucified Him, they divided
and distributed His garments [among them] by casting
lots so that the prophet’s saying was fulfilled, They
parted My garments among them and over My apparel
they cast lots. [Ps. 22:18.]
36 Then they sat down there and kept watch over
Him.
37 And over His head they put the accusation
against Him (*the cause of His death), which read, This
is Jesus the King of the Jews.
38 At the same time two robbers were crucified with
Him, one on the right hand and one on the left.
39 And those who passed by spoke reproachfully
and abusively and jeered at Him, wagging their heads,
[Ps. 22:7, 8; 109:25.]
40 And they said, You Who would tear down the
‘sanctuary of the temple and rebuild it in three days,
rescue Yourself “from death. If You are the Son of God,
come down from the cross.
41 In the same way the chief priests with the scribes
and elders made sport of Him, saying,
42 He rescued others “from death; Himself He can-
not rescue “from death. He is the King of Israel? Let
Him come down from the cross now, and we will believe
and “acknowledge and cleave to Him.
43 He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He
> Tyndale. © Trench. ἃ Cremer.
MATTHEW 27 113
cares for Him and will [have] Him, for He said, I am
the Son of God.
44 And the robbers who were crucified with Him
also abused and reproached and made sport of Him in
the same way.
45 Now from the sixth hour [noon] there was dark-
ness over all the land until the ninth hour [three o'clock].
46 And about the ninth hour [three o'clock] Jesus
cried with a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that
is, My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me —
leaving Me ‘4helpless, forsaking and failing Me in My
need? [Ps. 22:].]
47 And some of the bystanders when they heard it
said, This Man is calling for Elijah!
48 And one of them immediately ran and took a
sponge, soaked it with vinegar [a sour wine], and put
it on a reed-staff and was ‘about to give it to Him to
drink. [Ps. 69:21.]
49 But the others said, Wait! Let us see whether
Elijah will come to save Him ¢from death.
50 And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and gave
up His spirit.
51 And at once the curtain of the "sanctuary of the
temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth
shook, and the rocks were split; [Ex. 26:31-35.]
52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the
saints who had fallen asleep ‘in death were raised,
53 And coming out of the tombs after His resurrec-
tion, they went into the holy city and appeared to many
people.
4 Wuest. © Vincent. f Cremer. @ Trench.
114 MATTHEW 27
54 When the centurion and those that were with
him keeping watch over Jesus, observed the earthquake
and all that was happening, they were terribly frightened
and filled with awe, and said, Truly this was God’s Son!
55 There were also numerous women there looking
on from a distance, who were of those who had accom-
panied Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him;
56 Among them were Mary of Magdala, and Mary
the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of
Zebedee’s sons.
57 When it was evening, there came a rich man
from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple
of Jesus.
58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of
Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given him.
59 And Joseph took the body and £rolled it up in a
clean linen cloth "used for swathing dead bodies,
60 And laid it in his own fresh [‘undefiled] tomb,
which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a big
boulder over the door of the tomb and went away.
61 And Mary of Magdala and the other Mary kept
sitting there opposite the tomb.
62 The next day, that is, the day after the day of
preparation [for the Sabbath], the chief priests and the
Pharisees assembled before Pilate
63 And said, Sir, we have just remembered how
that ‘vagabond JImposter said, while He was still alive,
After three days I will arise again.
64 Therefore give an order to have the tomb made
Young's Concordance. *Moulton and Milligan. ‘Vincent.
ICapitalized because of what He is, not what the speakers may have
ought He was.
MATTHEW 28 115
secure and safeguarded until the third day, for fear His
disciples go and steal Him away, and tell the people
that He has risen from the dead, and the last deception
and fraud will be worse than the first.
65 Pilate said to them, You have a guard of soldiers;
[take them and] go, make it as secure as you can.
66 So they went off and made the tomb secure by
sealing the boulder, a guard of soldiers being with them
and remaining to watch.
CHAPTER 28
OW after the Sabbath, near dawn of the first day
of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary
went to take a look at the tomb.
2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an
angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came
and rolled the boulder back and sai upon it.
3 His appearance was like lightning, and his gar-
ments as white as snow.
4 And those keeping guard were so frightened at
sight of him that they were agitated and trembled, and
became like dead men.
5 But the angel said to the women, Do not be
alarmed and frightened, for I know that you are looking
for Jesus Who was crucified.
6 Heis not here; He has risen, as He said [He would
do]. Come, see the place where He lay.
7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples, He has
risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you
to Galilee; there you will see Him. Lo, I have told you.
116 MATTHEW 28
8 So they left the tomb hastily with fear and great
joy, and ran to tell the disciples.
9 And as they went, behold, Jesus met them and
said, Hail (greeting)! And they went up to Him and
clasped His feet and worshipped Him.
10 ‘Then Jesus said to them, Do not be alarmed and
afraid; go and tell My brethren to go into Galilee, and
there they will see Me.
11 While they were on their way, behold, some of
the guard went into the city and reported to the chief
priests everything that had occurred.
12 And when they had gathered with the elders and
had consulted together, they gave a sufhcient sum of
money to the soldiers,
13 And said, Tell people, His disciples came at night
and stole Him away while we were sleeping.
14 And if the governor hears of it, we will appease
him and make you safe and free from trouble and care.
15 So they took the money and did as they were
instructed, and this story has been current among the
Jews to the present day.
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the
mountain to which Jesus had directed and made appoint-
ment with them.
17 And when they saw Him they fell down and
worshipped Him, but some doubted.
18 Jesus approached and ¢breaking the silence said
to them, All authority — all power of rule —in heaven
and on earth has been given to Me.
19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations,
*Vincent.
MATTHEW 28 117
baptizing them ‘into the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit;
20 ‘Teaching them to observe everything that I have
commanded you, and lo, I am with you ‘all the days,
— ®perpetually, uniformly and on every occasion — to the
[very] close and consummation of the age. Amen — so
let it be.
*Vincent. tWycliffe. &Webster’s definition of “alway.”
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING
TO
MARK
CHAPTER 1
dhe beginning [of the facts] of the good news
(the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 ®Just as it is written in the prophet Isaiah: Be-
hold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will
make ready Your way; [Mal. 3:1.]
3. A voice of one crying in the wilderness — shouting
in the desert — Prepare the way of the Lord, make His
bbeaten-tracks straight (level and passable)! [Is. 40:3.]
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness
Cdesert.), preaching a baptism [*obligating] repentance —
[that is] ‘a change of one’s mind for the better and
heartily to amend one’s ways with abhorrence of his past
sins — in order “to obtain forgiveness of and release from
sins.
5 And there kept going out to him (continuously) all
the country of Judea, and all the inhabitants of Jeru-
salem; and they were baptized by him in the river
Jordan, *as they were confessing their sins.
6 And John wore clothing woven of camel's hair,
and had a leather girdle around his loins, and ate locusts
and wild honey.
7 And he preached, saying, After me comes He
Who is stronger— more powerful and more valiant —
than I, the strap of Whose sandals I am not worthy or
fit to stoop down and unloose.
*"Wuest’s ‘Mark in the Greek Testament.”
bMoulton and Milligan’s “The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament.”
¢Thayer’s “Greek- English Lexicon of the New Testament - Grimm.”
4Williams’ ‘The New Testament in the Language of the People.”
118
MARK 1 119
8 I have baptized you with water, but He will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 And when He came up out of the water, at once
"he saw the heavens torn open and the [Holy] Spirit
like a dove, coming down ["to enter] ‘into Him;
11 And there came a voice "out from within heaven,
You are My Beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.
[Ps. 2:7; Is. 42:1.]
12 Immediately the [Holy] Spirit [from within]
drove Him out into the wilderness (desert).
13 And He stayed in the wilderness (desert) forty
days, being tempted [the while] by Satan; and He was
with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to Him
Ccontinually).
14 Now after John was arrested and put in prison,
Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the good news (the
Gospel) of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The [appointed period of] time is
(completed) fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at
hand; repent (“have a change of mind which issues in
regret for past sins and in change of conduct for the
better) and believe — trust in, rely on and adhere to the
good news — the Gospel.
16 And passing along the shore of the sea of Galilee,
He saw Simon [Peter] and Andrew the brother of
Simon casting a net (to and fro) in the sea, for they were
fishermen.
*John 1:32. >Wuest'’s “ΜΑΙ in the Greek Testament.”
‘Literal translation of ‘‘eis.”’ ¢Vincent.
120 MARK 1
17 And Jesus said to them, Come after Me an
My disciples, and I will make you to become fi
of men.
18 And at once they left their nets and ‘yieldin
all claim to them followed [with] Him — ‘joining
as disciples and siding with His party.
19 He went on a little farther and saw Jame:
[son] of Zebedee and John his brother, who wer
[their] boat putting their nets in order.
20 And immediately He called out to them,
[tabandoning all mutual claims] they left their f:.
Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and wen
after Him — ‘to be His disciples, side with His party
follow Him.
21 And they entered into Capernaum, and ir
diately on the Sabbath He went into the synagogue
began to teach.
22 And they were completely astonished at
teaching, for He was teaching as one who posse
authority, and not as the scribes.
23 Just at that time there was in their synagc
a man [who was in the power] of an unclean spirit;
now immediately he raised a deep and terrible cry ἢ
the depths of his throat, saying,
24 What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazar
Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are,
Holy [One] of God!
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hush up
muzzled, gagged), and come out of him!
26 And the unclean spirit, throwing the man :
tThayer.
MARK 1 121
convulsions and ®screeching with a loud voice, came
out of him.
27 And they were all so amazed and °almost terrified
that they kept questioning and demanding one of an-
other, saying, What is this? What new Cfresh) teaching!
With authority He gives orders even to the unclean
spirits and they obey Him!
28 And immediately rumors concerning Him spread
[everywhere] throughout all the region surrounding
Galilee.
29 And at once He left the synagogue and went into
the house of Simon [Peter] and Andrew, accompanied
by James and John.
30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law ‘had for some time
been lying sick with a fever, and at once they told Him
about her.
31 And He went up to her, and took her by the
hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she
began to wait on them.
32 Now when it was evening, after the sun had set,
they brought to Him all who were sick and those under
the power of demons,
33 Until the whole town was gathered together
about the door.
34 And He cured many who were afflicted with
various diseases, and He drove out many demons; and
would not allow the demons to talk, because they knew
Him [‘intuitively ].
35 And in the morning, long before daylight, He got
®*Robertson’s “Word Pictures in the New Testament.’”’
bSouter’s ‘“‘Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament.”
‘Wuest. 4“VWilliams.
120 MARK 1
17 And Jesus said to them, Come after Me and tbe
My disciples, and I will make you to become fshers
of men.
18 And at once they left their nets and tyielding up
all claim to them followed [with] Him — ‘joining Him
as disciples and siding with His party.
19 He went on a little farther and saw James the
[son] of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in
[their] boat putting their nets in order.
20 And immediately He called out to them, and
[tabandoning all mutual claims] they left their father
Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and went off
after Him — ‘to be His disciples, side with His party and
follow Him.
21 And they entered into Capernaum, and imme-
diately on the Sabbath He went into the synagogue and
began to teach.
22 And they were completely astonished at His
teaching, for He was teaching as one who possessed
authority, and not as the scribes.
23 Just at that time there was in their synagogue
a man [who was in the power] of an unclean spirit; and
now immediately he raised a deep and terrible cry from
the depths of his throat, saying,
24 What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are, the
Holy [One] of God!
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hush up (be
muzzled, gagged), and come out of him!
26 And the unclean spirit, throwing the man into
tThayer.
MARK 1 121
convulsions and "screeching with a loud voice, came
out of him.
27 And they were all so amazed and "almost terrified
that they kept questioning and demanding one of an-
other, saying, What is this? What new Cfresh) teaching!
With authority He gives orders even to the unclean
spirits and they obey Him!
28 And immediately rumors concerning Him spread
[everywhere] throughout all the region surrounding
Galilee.
29 And at once He left the synagogue and went into
the house of Simon [Peter] and Andrew, accompanied
by James and John.
30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law chad for some time
been lying sick with a fever, and at once they told Him
about her.
31 And He went up to her, and took her by the
hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she
began to wait on them.
32 Now when it was evening, after the sun had set,
they brought to Him all who were sick and those under
the power of demons,
33 Until the whole town was gathered together
about the door.
34 And He cured many who were afflicted with
various diseases, and He drove out many demons; and
would not allow the demons to talk, because they knew
Him [‘intuitively].
35 And in the morning, long before daylight, He got
*Robertson’s “Word Pictures in the New Testament.”
bSouter’s ‘Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament.”
cWuest. WV illiams.
122 MARK 1
up and went out to a ‘deserted place, and there He
prayed.
36 And Simon [Peter] and those who were with
him followed Him — “pursuing Him eagerly and hunting
Him out;
37 And they found Him, and said to Him, Every-
body is looking for You.
38 And He said to them, Let us be going on into
the neighboring country towns, that I may preach there
also, for that is why I came out.
39 [So] He went throughout the whole of Galilee,
preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
40 And a leper came to Him, begging Him on his
knees and saying to Him, If You will, You are able to
make me clean.
41 And being moved with pity and sympathy, Jesus
reached out His hand and touched him, and said to him,
I will; be made clean!
42 And at once the leprosy [completely] left him,
and he was made clean (by being healed).
43 And Jesus charged him sternly (sharply and
threateningly, and with earnest admonition), and (act-
ing with deep feeling thrust him forth and) sent him
away at once;
44 And said to him, See that you tell nothing [of
this] to any one; but begone, show yourself to the priest,
and offer for your purification what Moses commanded,
as a proof (an evidence and witness) to the people [that
you are really healed]. [Lev. 13:49; 14:2-32.]
45 But he went out and began to talk so freely about
*Moulton and Milligan. 4Vincent.
MARK 2 123
it and blaze abroad the news (spreading it everywhere),
that [Jesus] could no longer openly go into a town, but
was outside in (lonely) desert places. But the people
kept on coming to Him from “all sides and every quarter.
CHAPTER 2
ND Jesus having returned to Capernaum, after
some days it was rumored about that He was in
the house [Peter’s, probably].
2 And so many people gathered together there that
there was no longer room [for them], not even around
the door; and He was discussing the Word.
3 Then they came bringing a paralytic to Him, who
had been picked up and was being carried by four men.
4 And when they could not get him to a place in
front of Jesus because of the throng, they dug through
the roof above Him; and when they had scooped out
an opening, they let down the (*thickly padded) quilt
or mat upon which the paralyzed man lay.
5 And when Jesus saw their faith [that is, their
confidence in God through Him], [16 said to the para-
lyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven [you] and put
away — [that is] the ’penalty is remitted, the sense of
guilt removed, and you are made upright and in right
standing with God.
6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, holding
a dialogue with themselves as they questioned in their
hearts,
7 Why does this “Man talk like this? He is blas-
*Vincent. bWuest. ‘Moulton and Milligan.
4Capitalized because of what He is, not for what the speakers may have
thought He was.
124 MARK 2
pheming! Who can forgive sins— [that is] remove
guilt, remit the penalty and bestow righteousness instead
— except God alone?
8 And at once Jesus, becoming fully aware in His
spirit that they thus debated within themselves, said to
them, Why do you argue (debate, reason) about all this
in your hearts?
9 Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, Your
sins are forgiven and »put away, or to say, Rise, take up
your sleeping pad and start walking about — and keep
on walking?
10 But that you may know positively and beyond a
doubt that the Son of man has right and authority and
power on earth to forgive sins, He said to the paralyzed
man,
11 I say to you, arise, pick up and carry your sleeping
pad and be going on home.
12 And he arose at once and picked up the pallet
and went out before them all; so that they were all
amazed and ‘recognized and praised and thanked God,
saying, We have never seen anything like this before!
13 [Jesus] went out again along the seashore, and all
the multitude kept gathering about Him, and He kept
teaching them.
14 And as He was passing by, He saw Levi [Mat-
thew] the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and
He said to him, (Be 4joined to Me as a disciple, side with
My party and) follow Me! And he arose and joined
bWuest
¢Cremer’s “Biblico-Theological Lexicon of New Testament Greek.”
“Thayer.
MARK 2 125
Him as His disciple and sided with His party and ac-
companied Him.
15 And as Jesus together with His disciples sat at
table in his [Levi’s] house, many tax collectors and per-
sons (‘definitely stained) with sin were dining with Him,
for there were many who walked the same road Cfol-
lowed) with Him.
16 And the scribes (belonging to the party, of the
Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with (those
édefinitely known to be especially wicked) sinners and
tax collectors, said to His disciples, Why does He eat
and drink with tax collectors and Cnotorious) sinners?
17 And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, Those
who are strong and well have no need of a physician,
but those who are weak and sick; I came not to call the
righteous ones to repentance, but sinners--the ‘erring
ones and “all those not free from sin.
18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were
observing a fast, and [some people] came and asked
Jesus, Why are John’s disciples and the disciples of the
Pharisees fasting, but Your disciples are not doing so?
19 Jesus answered them, Can the wedding guests
fast Cabstain from food and drink) while the bridegroom
is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with
them they cannot fast.
20 But the days will come when the bridegroom is
taken away from them, and they will fast in that day.
21 No one sews a patch of Cnew) unshrunken goods
on an old garment; if he does, the patch tears away
4Thayer. °¢Young’s Concordance.
126 MARK 3
from it, the new from the old, and the rent becomes
bigger and worse [than it was before].
22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins;
if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine
is lost and the bottles destroyed; but new wine is to be
put in new Cfresh) wineskins.
23 One Sabbath He was going along beside the fields
of standing grain; and as they made their way, His disci-
ples began to ‘pick off the grains. [Deut. 23:25.]
24 And the Pharisees said to Him, Look! Why are
they doing what is not permitted or lawful on the
Sabbath?
25 And He said to them, Have you never [even]
read what David did, when he was in need and was
hungry, he and those who were accompanying him?
26 How he went into the house of God, when
Abiathar was the high priest, and ate the sacred loaves
set forth [before God], which it is not permitted or
lawful for any but the priests to eat, and [how he] also
gave [them] to those who were with him? [I Sam.
21:1-6; 11 Sam. 8:17.]
27 And Jesus said to them, The Sabbath was made
on account and for the sake of man, not man for the
Sabbath; [Ex. 23:12; Deut. 5:14.]
28 So the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
CHAPTER 3
GAIN Jesus went into a synagogue, and a man
was there who had one withered hand C®as the
result of accident or disease).
fW uest. €Vincent.
MARK 3 127
2 And [the Pharisees] kept watching Jesus (closely),
to see whether He would cure on the Sabbath, so that
they might get a charge to bring against Him (*formally ).
3 And He said to the man that had the withered
hand, Get up [and stand here] in the midst.
4 And He said to them, Is it lawful and right on
the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to
take it? But they kept silence.
5 And He glanced around at them with vexation and
anger, grieved at the hardening of their hearts, and said
to the man, Hold out your hand. He held it out, and
his hand was (completely) restored.
6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately
held a consultation with the Herodians against Him,
how they might (devise some means to) put Him to
death.
7 And Jesus retired with His disciples to the lake,
and a great throng from Galilee followed Him. Also
from Judea
8 And from Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond
the Jordan and from about Tyre and Sidon a vast
multitude, hearing all the many things that He was
doing, came to Him.
9 And He told His disciples to have a little boat in
[constant] readiness for Him because of the crowd, lest
they press hard upon Him and crush Him;
10 For He had healed so many that all who had dis-
tressing bodily diseases kept falling upon Him and
pressing upon Him in order that they might touch Him.
11 And the spirits, the unclean ones, as often as
aWuest, bVincent.
128 MARK 3
they might see Him, fell down before Him and kept
screaming out, You are the Son of God!
12 And He charged them strictly and severely under
penalty again and again that they should not make Him
known.
13 And He went up on the hillside, and called to
Him (ἴον Himself those) whom He wanted and chose,
and they came to Him.
14 And He appointed twelve to ®continue to be with
Him, and that He might send them out to preach (as
apostles),
15 And to have authority and power to heal the sick
and to drive out demons.
16 [They were] Simon, and He surnamed [him]
Peter;
17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother
of James, and He surnamed them Boanerges, that is,
Sons of Thunder; and
18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew [Nathan-
iel], and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of
Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus [Judas, not Iscariot], and
Simon the Cananaean [also called Zelotes],
19 And Judas Iscariot, he who betrayed Him. Then
He went to a house [probably Peter’s].
20 But a throng came together again, so that Jesus
and His disciples could not even take food.
21 And when those ’who belonged to Him C‘cHis
kinsmen) heard it, they went out to take Him by force,
for they kept saying, He is out of “His mind — beside
Himself, deranged!
eWuest. Tyndale. ‘Wycliffe.
ἐΓΑρ πα Ιζεά for what He is, not what the speakers may have thought
e was.
MARK 3 129
22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem
said, He is possessed by Beelzebub, and by [the help
of] the prince of demons He is casting out demons.
23 And He summoned them to Him, and said to
them in parables, How can Satan drive out Satan?
24 And if a kingdom is divided and rebelling against
itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house is divided — split into factions and
rebelling — against itself that house will not be able to
last.
26 And if Satan has raised an insurrection against
himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is [surely]
coming to an end.
27 But no one can go into a strong man’s house and
ransack his household goods right and left and seize
them as plunder, unless he first binds the strong man;
then indeed he may [thoroughly] plunder his house.
[Is. 49:24, 25.]
28 Truly and solemnly I say to you, all sins will be
forgiven the sons of men, and whatever abusive and
blasphemous things they utter;
29 But whoever speaks abusively against or malicious-
ly misrepresents the Holy Spirit can never get forgive-
ness, but is guilty of and is in the grasp of °an everlasting
trespass.
30 For they “persisted in saying, ‘He has an unclean
Spirit.
31 Then His mother and His brothers came, and
standing outside they sent word to Him, calling [for]
Him.
eWeelife. . @Vincent:
‘Capitalized for what He is, not what the speakers may have thought
e was.
130 MARK 4
32 And a crowd was sitting around Him, and they
said to Him, Your mother and Your brothers and Your
sisters are outside, asking for You.
33 And He replied, Who are My mother and My
brothers?
34 And looking around on those who sat in a circle
about Him, He said, See! Here are My mother and My
brothers,
35 For whoever does the things God wills is My
brother, and sister, and mother!
CHAPTER 4
GAIN Jesus began to teach beside the Jake. And
a very great crowd gathered about Him, so that He
got into a ship in order to sit in it on the sea; and the
whole crowd was at the lakeside on the shore.
2 And He taught them many things in parables
[concrete illustrations put beside truths to explain them],
and in His teaching He said to them:
3 Give attention to this. Behold, a sower went out
to sow.
4 And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the
path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 Other seed [of the same kind] fell on ground full
of rocks, where it had not much soil, and at once it
sprang up, because it had no depth of soil;
6 And when the sun came up, it was scorched, and
because it had not taken root withered away.
7 Other seed [of the same kind] fell among thorn-
plants, and the thistles grew and pressed together and
utterly choked and suffocated it, and it yielded no grain.
MARK 4 131
8 And other seed [of the same kind] fell into good
Cwell adapted) soil, and brought forth grain, growing up
and increasing, and yielded up to thirty times as much,
and sixty times as much, and even a hundred times as
much as had been sown.
9 And He said, He who has ears to hear, let him
be hearing — and *consider, and comprehend.
10 And as soon as He was alone, those who were
around Him with the twelve [apostles] began to ask
Him about the parables.
11 And He said to them, To you has been entrusted
the mystery of the kingdom of God, [that is, *the secret
counsels of God which are hidden from the ungodly; ]
but for those outside [‘of our circle] everything becomes
a parable,
12 In order that they may [indeed] look and look but
not perceive, and may hear and hear but not grasp and
comprehend; “lest haply they should turn again, and it
(their wilful rejection of the truth] should he forgiven
them. [ls. 6:9, 10.]
13 And He said to them, Do you not discern and
understand this parable? How then [is it possible for]
you to discern and understand all the parables?
14 The sower sows the Word.
15 The ones along the path are those who have the
Word sown [in their hearts], but when they hear, Satan
comes at once and (by force) takes away the message
which is sown in them.
16 And in the same way the ones sown upon stony
«Thayer. bWuest. ¢Vincent. “Robertson.
132 MARK 4
ground are those who, when they hear the Word, at
once receive and accept and welcome it with joy;
17 And they have no real root in themselves, and
so they endure for a little while, then when trouble or
persecution arises on account of the Word, they immedi-
ately are offended — become displeased, indignant, resent-
ful; and they stumble and fall away.
18 And the ones sown among the thorns are others
who hear the Word,
19 Then the cares and anxieties of the world, and
distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and
false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving
and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke
and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless.
20 And those that were sown on the good (well-
adapted) soil are the ones who hear the Word, and re-
ceive and accept and welcome it and bear fruit, some
thirty times as much as ‘was sown, some sixty times as
much, and some [even] a hundred times as much.
21 And He said to them, Is the lamp brought in to
be put under a ‘peck-measure, or under a bed, and not
on the [lamp] stand?
22 -~—8*Things are hidden [temporarily] only as a
means to revelation. For there is nothing hidden except
to be revealed, nor is anything [temporarily] kept secret
except in order that it may be made known.
23 If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening,
and perceive and comprehend.
24 And He said to them, Be careful what you are
hearing. The measure ®[of thought and study] you give
tMoulton and Milligan. sAfter Swete, Robertson, Vincent, etc.
bAfter ‘‘Expositor’s Greek Testament.”
MARK 4 133
[to &the truth you hear] will be the measure ®[of
virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you, and
more [besides] will be given to you who hear.
25 For to him who has will more be given, and from
him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken
away (‘by force),
26 And He said, The kingdom of God is like a man
who scatters seed upon the ground,
27 Then continues sleeping and rising night and
day while the seed sprouts and grows and ‘increases, he
knows not how.
28 The earth produces [acting] by itself, first the
blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
29 But when the grain is ripe and permits, immedi-
ately he Jsends forth [the reapers] and puts in the sickle,
because the harvest stands ready.
30 And He said, With what can we compare the
kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use to illus-
trate and explain it?
31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which when
sown upon tlie ground is the smallest of all seeds upon
the earth;
32 Yet after it is sown it grows up and becomes the
greatest of all garden herbs, and puts out large branches,
so that the birds of the air are able to make nests and
dwell in its shade.
33 With many such parables [Jesus] spoke the Word
®After Gray and Adams’ “Bible Commentary,” Euthy, Wuest, Barnes, etc.
bAfter ‘‘Expositor’s Greek Testament,”’ etc. ''Thayer. Vincent.
134 MARK 4
to them, as they were able to hear and *to comprehend
and understand.
34 He did not tell them anything without a parable,
but privately to His disciples [those who were peculiarly
His own] He explained everything [fully].
35 On that same day [when] evening had come, He
said to them, Let us go over to the other side [of the
Jake].
36 And leaving the throng, they took Him with
them, [just] as He was, in the boat [in which He was
sitting]. And other boats were with Him.
37 And a furious storm of wind (of hurricane pro-
portions) arose, and the waves kept beating into the boat,
so that it was already becoming filled.
38 But He [Himself] was in the stern [of the boat]
asleep on the [leather] cushion; and they awoke Him
and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we are
perishing?
39 And He arose and rebuked the wind, and said
to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the
wind ceased, [that is, ‘sank to rest as if exhausted by its
beating] and there was (immediately) a great calm —
‘a perfect peacefulness.
40 He said to them, Why are you so timid and fear-
ful? How is it that you have no faith — no “firmly rely-
ing trust?
41 And they were filled with great awe and *feared
exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this,
that even wind and sea obey Him?
®Thayer. bWuest. *Vincent. 4After Wycliffe. *Cremer.
MARK 5 135
CHAPTER 5
HEY came to the other side of the sea, to the region
of the Gerasenes.
2 And as soon as He got out of the boat, there met
Him a man out of the tombs [under the power of] an
unclean spirit.
3. This man ‘continually lived among the tombs, and
no one could subdue him any more, even with a chain;
4 For he had been bound often with shackles for
the feet, and "handcuffs, but the handcuffs [of light]
chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he rubbed
and ground together and broke in pieces; and no one
had strength enough to restrain or tame him.
5 Night and day among the tombs and on the
mountains he was always shrieking and screaming, and
‘beating and bruising and cutting himself with stones.
6 And when from a distance he saw Jesus, he ran
and fell on his knees before Him in homage,
7 And crying out with a loud voice, He said, What
have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High
God? What is there in common between us? 1 #solemnly
implore you by God, do not begin to torment mc!
8 For Jesus was commanding, Come out of the man,
you unclean spirit!
9 And He asked him, What is your name? He re-
plied, My name is Legion, for we are many.
10 And he kept begging Him urgently not to send
them [himself and the other demons] away out of that
region.
11 Now a great herd of hogs was grazing there on
the hillside;
“Wuest. bThayer. tMoulton and Milligan. &Abbott-Smith.
136 MARK 5
12 And the demons begged Him, saying, Send us
to the hogs that we may go into them!
13 So He gave them permission. And the unclean
spirits came out [of the man] and entered into the hogs,
and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed
headlong down the steep slope into the lake, and were
drowned in the sea.
14 The hog-feeders ran away, and told [it] im the
town and in the country. And [the people] came to see
what it was that had taken place.
15 And they came to Jesus, and looked intently and
searchingly at the man who had been a demoniac, sitting
there clothed and in his right mind, [the same man] who
had had the legion [of demons]; and they were ®seized
with alarm and struck with fear.
16 And those who had seen it related in full what
had happened to the man possessed by demons and
to the hogs.
17 And they began to beg [Jesus] to leave their
neighborhood.
18 And when He had stepped into the boat, the man
who had been controlled by the unclean spirits kept
begging Him that he might be with Him.
19 But Jesus refused to permit him, but said to him,
Go home to your own [family and relatives and friends],
and bring back word to them of how much the Lord
has done for you, and [how He has] had sympathy for
you and mercy on you.
20 And he departed and began to publicly proclaim
in Decapolis [the region of the ten cities] how much
“Thayer.
MARK 5 137
Jesus had done for him, and all the people were aston-
ished and marveled.
21 And when Jesus had recrossed in the boat to the
other side, a great throng gathered about Him, and He
was at the lakeshore.
22 ‘Then one of the rulers of the synagogue came up,
Jairus by name; and seeing Him, he prostrated himself at
His feet,
23 And begged Him earnestly, saying, My little
daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay Your
hands on her, so that she may be healed and live.
24 And Jesus went with him, and a great crowd
kept following Him, and pressed Him *from all sides —
so as almost to suffocate Him.
25 And there was ἃ woman who had had a flow
of blood for twelve years,
26 And who had endured much ®suffering under [the
hands of] many physicians, and had spent all that she
had; and was no better but instead grew worse.
27 She had heard the reports concerning Jesus, and
she came up behind Him in the throng and touched
His garment,
28 For she kept saying, If I only touch His garments,
I shall be restored to health.
29 And immediately her (flow of) blood was dried
up at the source, and (‘suddenly) she felt in her body
that she was healed of her C*distressing) ailment.
30 And Jesus, recognizing in Himself that the power
proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around
®Thayer. bVincent. cWuest.
138 MARK 5
immediately in the crowd, and said, Who touched My
clothes?
31 And the disciples kept saying to Him, You see
the crowd pressing hard around You (from all sides),
and You ask, Who touched Me?
32 Still He kept looking around to see her who
had done it.
33 But the woman, knowing what had been done for
her, though alarmed and frightened and trembling, fell
down before Him, and told Him the whole truth.
34 And He said to her, Daughter, your faith [that
is, your "trust and confidence in Me, springing from faith
in God] has restored you to health. Go *in(to) peace,
and be continually healed and free from your (*distress-
ing bodily) disease.
35 While He was still speaking, there came some
from the ruler’s house who said [to Jairus], Your daugh-
ter has died. Why bother and distress the Teacher any
further?
36 (‘Overhearing) but ignoring what they said, Jesus
said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be seized
with alarm and have no fear, only keep on believing.
37 And He permitted no one to accompany Him
except Peter and James and John the brother of James.
38 When they arrived at the house of the ruler of
the synagogue, He "looked (carefully and with under-
standing) at [the] tumult and [the people] weeping and
wailing loudly.
39 And when He had gone in, He said to them,
Why do you make an uproar and weep? The little girl
is not dead, but is sleeping.
«Thayer. bWuest. cAlternate reading.
MARK 6 139
40 And they laughed and ‘jeered at Him. But he
put them all out, and taking the child’s father and
mother and those who were with Him, He went in
where the little girl was lying.
41 Gripping her (firmly) by the hand, He said to
her, Talitha cumi, which translated is, Little girl, I say
to you, arise ("from the sleep of death)!
42 And instantly the girl got up and started walk-
ing around, for she was twelve years [old]. And they
were utterly astonished and overcome with amazement.
43 And He strictly commanded and warned them
that no one should know this, and He (expressly) told
them to give her [something] to eat.
CHAPTER 6
ESUS went away from there and came to His [own]
J country and home town [Nazareth], and His dis-
ciples followed Cwith) Him.
2 And on the Sabbath He began to teach in the
synagogue; and many who listened to Him were utterly
astonished, saying, Where did this [Man] acquire all
this? What is the wisdom — the broad and full intelli-
gence — [which has been] given to ‘Him? What mighty
works and exhibitions of power are wrought by His
hands!
3 Is not this the Carpenter, the son of Mary and the
brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and
are not His sisters here among us? And they took offense
at Him and “were hurt [that is, they *disapproved of Him
*Abbott-Smith. bThayer.
cCapitalized because of what He is, not what the speakers may have
thought He was. éTyndale. eWu t
140 MARK 6
and it hindered them from acknowledging His authority];
and they were caused to stumble and fall.
4 But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without
honor (deference, reverence), except in his [own] coun-
try and among [his] relatives and in his [own] house.
5 And He was not able to do “even one work of
power there, except that He laid His hands on a few
sickly people [and] cured them.
6 And He marveled because of their unbelief — their
lack of faith in Him. And He went about among the
surrounding villages [and] continued teaching.
7 And He called to Him the twelve [apostles], and
began to send them out [as His ambassadors] two by
two, and gave them authority and power over the un-
clean spirits.
8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey
except a walking stick; no bread, “πο wallet for a collec-
tion bag, no money in their belts (girdles, purses);
9 But to go with sandals on their feet and not put
on two tunics (undergarments).
10 And He told them, Where you go into a house,
stay there until you leave that place.
11 And if any [community] will not receive and
accept and welcome you, and they refuse to listen to
you, when you depart shake off the dust that is on your
feet for a testimony against them. Truly, I tell you,
it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in
the judgment day than for that town.
12 So they went out and preached that men should
repent [that is ‘that they should change their minds for
IWuest. *Moulton and Milligan. tThayer.
MARK 6 14]
the better, and heartily amend their ways with abhor-
rence for their past sins].
13 And they drove out many unclean spirits, and
anointed with oil many who were sick, and cured them.
14 King Herod heard of it, for [Jesus’] name had
become well known. ‘He and they [of his court] said,
John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that
is why these mighty powers (‘of performing miracles)
are at work in Him.
15 [But] others kept saying, It is Elijah! And others
said, It is a prophet, like one of the prophets [of old].
16 But when Herod heard [of it], he said, (°*This
very) John, whom I beheaded, has been raised [from
the dead].
17 For this Herod himself had sent and seized John,
and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his
brother Philip’s wife, because he [Herod] had married
her.
18 For John had told Herod, ft is not lawful ana
you have no right to have your brother’s wife.
19 And Herodias was angry Cenraged) with him,
and held a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him,
but she could not.
20 For Herod had (4a reverential) fear of John,
knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and
(continually) kept him safe [Cunder guard]. When he
heard [John speak] he was much perplexed. And [yet]
he heard him gladly.
21 But an opportune time came [for Herodias]
*Some ancient authorities read “he.” 4Abbott-Smith. *Vincent.
142 MARK 6
when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his
nobles and the high military and chief men of Galilee.
22 For when the daughter 4of Herodias herself came
in and danced, she pleased and “fascinated Herod and
his guests; and the king said to the girl, Ask me for what-
ever you desire, and I will give it to you.
23 And he put himself under oath to her, Whatever
you ask me, I will give it to you, even to the half of
my kingdom. [Esth. 5:3, 6.]
24 Then she left the room and said to her mother,
What shall I ask [for myself]? And she replied, The
head of John the Baptist!
25 And she rushed back instantly to the king, and
requested, saying, I wish you to give me right now the
head of John the Baptist on a platter.
26 And the king was deeply pained and grieved and
exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests
he did not want to slight her [by breaking faith with
her].
27 And immediately the king sent off one [of the
soldiers] of his bodyguard, and gave him orders to bring
[John’s] head. He went and beheaded him in the prison,
28 And brought his head on a platter, and handed it
to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
29 When his disciples learned of it, they came and
took [John’s] body and laid it in a tomb.
30 The apostles [sent out as missionaries] came back
and gathered together to Jesus, and told Him all that
they had done and taught.
31 And He said to them, [*As for you] come away
aW uest.
MARK 6 143
by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while. For
many were (continually) coming and going, and they
had not even leisure enough to eat.
32 And they went away in a boat to a solitary place
by themselves.
33 Now many [people] saw them going and recog-
nized them, and they ran there on foot from all the
surrounding towns, and they got there ahead [of those
in the boat].
34 As Jesus landed He saw a great crowd waiting,
and He was moved with compassion for them, because
they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began
to teach them many things.
35 And when ‘the day was already far gone, His
disciples came to Him and said, This is a desolate and
isolated place, and the hour is now late;
36 Send the crowds away to go into the country
and villages round about and buy themselves something
to eaf.
37 But He replied to them, Give them something
to eat yourselves. And they said to Him, Shall we go
and buy two hundred denarii [about forty dollars] worth
of bread, and give it to them to eat? [II Kin. 4:42-44.]
38 And He said to them, How many loaves do you
have? Go and see. And when they [had looked and]
knew, they said, Five [loaves] and two fish.
39 Then He commanded the people all to recline
on the green grass by companies.
40 So they threw themselves down in ranks in hun-
4Wuest.
144 MARK 6
dreds and fifties — with the *regularity of arrangement of
beds of herbs, looking "like so many garden plots.
41 And taking the five loaves and two fish, He
looked up to heaven, and praising God gave thanks, and
broke the loaves, and kept on giving them to the disci-
ples to set before the people; and He [also] divided the
two fish among [them] all.
42 And they all ate and were satished.
43 And they took up twelve [‘small hand] baskets
full of broken pieces [from the loaves] and of the fish.
44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand
men.
45 And at once He insisted that the disciples get
into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side,
to Bethsaida, while He was sending the throng away.
46 And after He had taken leave of them, He went
off into the hills to pray.
47 Now when evening had come, the boat was out
in the middle of the lake, and He was by Himself on
the land.
48 And having seen that they were troubled and
tormented in rowing, for the wind was against them,
about the fourth watch of the night [3:00 o'clock] He
came to them, walking (directly) on the sea. And He
acted as if He meant to pass by them,
49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea
they thought [it] was a ghost, and ‘raised a (deep,
throaty) shtiek~ of terror.
50 For they all saw Him, and were agitated —
®*Moulton and Milligan. bTrench’s ‘‘Notes on the Miracles of our Lord.”
€Vincent. But Moulton and Milligan do not think size is meant.
dThayer,
MARK 7 145
troubled and filled with fear and dread. But immediate-
ly He talked with them and said, Take heart! I AM!
Stop being alarmed and afraid. [Ex. 3:14.]
51 And He went up into the boat with them and
the wind ceased, [‘sank to rest as if exhausted by its own
beating]. And_they were astonished exceedingly — be-
yond measure.
52 For they failed to consider or understand [the
teaching and meaning of the miracle of] the loaves; [in
fact] their hearts had “grown callous — had become dull
and had ‘lost the power of understanding.
53 And when they had crossed over they reached the
land of Gennesaret, and “came to (anchor at) the shore.
54 As soon as they got out of the boat [the people]
recognized Him,
55 And they ran about the whole countryside, and
began to carry around sick people on their pallets (sleep-
ing pads) to any place where they heard that He was.
56 And wherever He came into villayes or cities or
the country, they would lay the sick in the market places,
and beg Him that they might touch even the fringe of
His outer garment; and as many as touched Him were
restored to health.
CHAPTER 7
OW there gathered together to [Jesus] the Pharisees
and some of the scribes who had come from
Jerusalem,
2 For they had seen that some of His disciples ate
with *‘common hands, that is, [with hands defiled and
‘Vincent. ‘Thayer. *Tyndale.
146 MARK 7
unhallowed, because] they had not [given them a ‘cere-
monial] washing.
3 For the Pharisees and all of the Jews do not eat
unless [merely for ceremonial reasons] they wash their
hands Cdiligently up to the elbow) with clenched fist,
adhering (carefully and faithfully) to the tradition of
(practices and customs handed down to them by) their
forefathers — to be observed.
4 And [when they come] from the market place, they
do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are
many other traditions — [that is] oral, man-made laws
handed down to them, which they observe faithfully
and diligently — washing of cups and wooden pitchers
and widemouthed jugs and utensils of copper and beds.
5 And the Pharisees and scribes kept asking [Jesus],
Why do Your disciples not order their way of living
according to the tradition handed down by the fore-
fathers to be observed, but eat with hands unwashed and
ceremonially not purified?
6 But He said to them, Excellently and truly —'so
that there will be no room for blame — did Isaiah prophe-
sy of you, the pretenders and hypocrites, as it stands writ-
ten: This people (constantly) honor Me with their lips,
but their heart holds itself off and is far distant from Me.
7 In vain — fruitlessly and without profit — do they
worship Me, ordering and teaching to be obeyed as
doctrines the commandments and precepts of men. []5.
29:13.]
Williams. ¢tAbbott-Smith.
bAHendered ‘‘beds’’ in most lexicons, and by Moulton and Milligan, and
Young; mistranslated ‘“‘tables’’ by the Authorized Version; omitted by
Nestle. 'Thayer.
MARK 7 147
8 You disregard and give up and bid depart from
you the commandment of God, and cling to the tradition
of men — keeping it carefully and faithfully.
9 And He said to them, You have a fine way of
rejecting (thus thwarting and nullifying and doing away
with) the commandment of God, in order to keep your
tradition — your own human regulations!
10 For Moses said, Honor (revere with tenderness
of feeling and deference) your father and your mother;
and, He who speaks ill of, or reviles or abuses or treats
improperly father or mother, let him (surely) die. [Ex.
20:12; Deut. 5:16; Ex, 21:17; Lev. 20:9.]
11 But [as for you] you say, A man is exempt if he
tells [his] father or [his] mother, What you would other-
wise have gained from me (everything I have that would
have been of use to you) is Corban, that is, is a gift —
already given as an offering to God.
12 ‘Then you no longer are permitting him to do
anything for [his] father or mother — but are letting
him off from doing for them.
13 Thus you are nullifying and making void and of
no effect [the authority of] the Word of God through
your tradition, which you [in turn] hand on. And many
[things] of this kind you are doing.
14 And He called the people to [Him] again, and
said to them, Listen to Me, all of you, and understand
[what I say].
15 There is not [even] one thing outside a man
which by going into him can polute and defle him,
148 MARK 7
but the things which come out of a man are what
defile him and make him unhallowed and unclean.
16 If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening
—and "perceive, comprehend by hearing.
17 And when He had left the crowd and had gone
into the house, His disciples began asking Him about
the parable.
18 And He said to them, Then are you also unin-
telligent and dull and without understanding? Do you
not discern and see that whatever goes into a man from
the outside cannot make him unhallowed or unclean,
19 Since it does not reach and enter his heart but
[only his] digestive tract, and so passes on Cinto the place
designed to receive waste)? Thus He was making and
declaring all foods (ceremonially) clean [that is, "abolish-
ing the ceremonial distinctions of the Levitical Law].
20 And He said, What comes out of a man is what
makes a man unclean and renders[him] unhallowed.
21 For from within, [that 15] out of the heart of men,
come base and wicked thoughts: sexual immorality,
stealing, murder, adultery,
22 Coveting (a greedy desire to have more wealth),
dangerous and destructive wickedness, deceit; ‘unre-
strained (indecent) conduct; an evil eye (envy), slander
Cevil speaking, malicious misrepresentation, abusiveness );
pride — [that is] “the sin of an uplifted heart against God
and man; foolishness (folly, lack of sense, recklessness,
thoughtlessness ).
23 All these evil [purposes and desires] come from
® Abbott-Smith. b‘Expositor’s Greek Testament.”
¢Souter, “Vincent.
MARK 7 149
within, and they make the man unclean and render
him unhallowed.
24 And Jesus arose and went away from there to
the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He went into a
house and did not want any one to know [that He was
there], but it was not possible for Him to be hidden
[from public notice].
25 Instead, at once a woman whose little daughter
Cwas under the control of) an unclean spirit, heard about
Him, and came and flung herself down at His feet.
26 Now the woman was a Greek [Gentile in re-
ligion], a Syrophoenician by race. And she kept beg-
ging Him to drive the demon out of her little daughter.
27 And He said to her, First let the children be fed,
for it is not becoming or proper or right to take the
children’s bread and throw it to the (little house) dogs.
28 But she answered Him, Yes, Lord; yet even the
small pups under the table eat the little children’s scraps
of food.
29 And He said to her, Because of this saying you
may go your way; the demon has gone out of your
daughter {permanently ].
30 And she went home, and found the child thrown
on the couch, and the demon departed.
31 Soon after this Jesus coming back from the region
of Tyre, passed through Sidon on to the Sea of Galilee
through the region of Decapolis [the ten cities].
32 And they brought to Him a man who was deaf
and had difficulty in speaking, and they begged Jesus
to place His hand upon him.
33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately,
150 MARK 8
He thrust His fingers into the man’s ears, and spat and
touched his tongue;
34 And looking up to heaven, He sighed as He said,
Ephphatha, which means, Be opened.
35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was loosed,
and he began to speak distinctly and as he should.
36 And Jesus [*in His own interest] admonished and
ordered them sternly and expressly to tell no one, but
the more He commanded them, the more zealously they
proclaimed it.
37 And they were overwhelmingly astonished, say-
ing, He has done everything excellently — commendably
and nobly! He even makes the deaf to hear and the
dumb to speak!
CHAPTER 8
N those days when [again] an immense crowd had
gathered, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called
His disciples to Him, and told them,
2 I have pity and sympathy for the people and My
heart goes out to them, for they have been with Me now
three days, and have nothing [left] to eat;
3 And if I send them away to their homes hungry,
they will be feeble through exhaustion and faint along
the road; and some of them have come a long way.
4 And His disciples replied to Him, How can any
one fill and satisfy [these people] with loaves of bread
here in [this] desolate and uninhabited region?
*Wuest: In the middle voice showing charge given with speaker’s personal
interest in view.
MARK 8 15]
5 And He asked them, How many loaves have you?
They said, Seven.
6 And He commanded the multitude to recline upon
the ground, and He [then] took the seven loaves [of
bread], and having given thanks, He broke them and
kept on giving them to His disciples to put before [the
people]; and they placed them before the crowd.
7 And they had a few small fish; and when He had
“praised God and given thanks and asked Him to bless
them [to their use], He ordered that these also should be
set before [them].
8 And they ate and were satished, and they took up
seven [large provision] baskets full of the broken pieces
left over.
9 And there were about four thousand people. And
He dismissed them,
10 And at once He got into the boat with His
disciples, and went to the district of Dalmanutha (Cor
Magdala).
11 ‘The Pharisees came and began to argue with and
question Him, demanding from Him a sign — an attest-
ing miracle from heaven — [maliciously] to test Him.
12 And He groaned and sighed deeply in His spirit,
and said, Why does this generation seek for a sign?
Positively I say to you, no sign shall be given this gen-
eration.
13 And He went away and left them, and getting
into the boat again He departed to the other side.
14 Now they had [‘completely] forgotten to bring
bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
"Thayer. Vincent. But Moulton and Milligan: Size not meant. ‘Wuest.
152 MARK 8
15 And Jesus (repeatedly expressly) charged and ad-
monished them saying, Look out; keep on your guard
and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven
of Herod [£and the Herodians].
16 And they discussed it and reasoned with one an-
other, [It is] because we have no bread.
17 And being aware [of it], Jesus said to them, Why
are you reasoning and saying [it is] because you have no
bread? Do you not yet discern or understand? Are your
hearts in (a settled state of) hardness? [Jer. 5:21; Is.
6:9, 10.]
18 Having eyes do you not see [with them], and
having ears do you not hear and perceive and understand
the sense of what is said? And do you not remember?
19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thou-
sand, how many [*small hand] baskets full of broken
pieces did you take up? They said to Him, Twelve.
20 And the seven loaves for the four thousand, how
many [*large provision] baskets full of broken pieces did
you take up? And they said to Him, Seven.
21 And He (‘kept repeating), Do you not yet under-
stand?
22 And they came to Bethsaida. And [people]
brought to Him a blind man, and begged Him to touch
him.
23 And He Jcaught the blind man by the hand, and
led him out of the village; and when He had spit on his
eyes and put His hands upon him, He asked him, Do
you C'possibly) see anything?
¢Some ancient authorities so read.
bVincent. 1*“"Expositor’s Greek Testament.”’ JTyndale.
MARK 8 153
24 And he looked up and said, I see people, but
[they look] like trees, walking.
25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again, and
the man looked intently [that is, hxed his eyes on definite
objects], and he was restored, and saw everything dis-
tinctly — even what was “at a distance.
26 And He sent him away to his house, telling
[him], Do not [even] enter the village or tell any one
there.
27 And Jesus went on with His disciples to the
villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way He asked
His disciples, Who do people say that I am?
28 And they answered [Him], John the Baptist; and
others, Elijah, but others, One of the prophets.
29 And He asked them, But who do you yourselves
say that 1am? Peter replied to Him, You are the Christ,
the Messiah, the Anointed One.
30 And He charged them sharply to tell no one
about Him.
31 And He began to teach them that the Son of man
must of necessity suffer many things, and be tested and
disapproved and rejected by the elders and the chief
priests and the scribes, and be put to death, and after
three days rise [again ‘from death].
32 And He said this freely — frankly, plainly and ex-
plicitly, making it unmistakable. And Peter took Him
“by the hand and led Him aside, then [facing Him]
began to rebuke Him.
¢Cremer. aT hayer.
154 MARK 8
33 But turning around [His back to Peter], and
seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Get
behind Me, Satan! For you do not have a mind ‘intent
on promoting what God wills, but what pleases men —
you are not on God’s side, but that of men.
34 And Jesus called to [Him] the throng with His
disciples, and said to them, If any one intends to come
after Me, let him deny himself — forget, ignore, disown,
“lose sight of himself and his own interests — and take
up his cross, and (“joining Me as a disciple and siding
with My party) follow ‘with Me — continually, [that is, ]
cleave steadfastly to Me.
35 For whoever wants to save his [chigher, spiritual,
eternal] life, will lose [the ‘lower, natural, temporal life
dwhich is lived Conly) on earth}; and whoever gives up
his life [which is lived Conly) on earth], for My sake
and the Gospel’s, will save [his Shigher, spiritual life ‘in
the eternal kingdom of God].
36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole
world, and forfeit his life [4in the eternal kingdom
of God]?
37 For what can a man give as an exchange — ‘a
compensation, a ransom, in return —for his [blessed]
life [4in the eternal kingdom of God]?
38 For whoever %is ashamed [here and now] of Me
and My words in this adulterous (unfaithful) and (pre-
eminently) sinful generation, of him will the Son of man
also be ashamed, when He comes in the glory (splendor
and majesty) of His Father with the holy angels.
¢Jamieson, Fausett and Brown.
4Thayer. eWuest. fCremer. Robertson.
MARK 9 155
CHAPTER 9
ND Jesus said to them, Truly and solemnly, I
say to you, there are some standing here who will
in no way taste death before they see the kingdom of
God come in [its] power.
2 Six days after this Jesus took with Him Peter and
James and John, and led them up on a high mountain,
apart by themselves. And He was transhgured before
them and became resplendent with divine brightness.
3 And His garments became glistening, intensely
white, as no fuller (cloth dresser) on earth could bleach
them.
4 And Elijah appeared [there] to them, accompanied
by Moses, and they were “holding (a protracted) conver-
sation with Jesus.
5 And Peter took up the conversation saying, Mas-
ter, it is good and suitable and beautiful for us to be
here. Let us make three booths (tents), one for You and
one for Moses and one for Elijah.
6 For he did not [really] know what to say, for they
were in a violent fright — ‘aghast [with] dread.
7 And a cloud threw a shadow upon them, and a
voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is My Son,
the (‘most dearworthy,)) Beloved One; be ®constantly lis-
tening to and obeying Him.
8 And looking around they suddenly no longer saw
any one with them except Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming back down the mountain,
He admonished and ‘expressly ordered them to tell no
eWuest. >%Kennedy’s ‘Sources of New Testament Greek.”
cWycliffe. 4Abbott-Smith.
156 MARK 9
one what they had seen, until the Son of man should
rise from among the dead.
10 So they carefully and faithfully kept the matter
to themselves, questioning and disputing with one an-
other about what rising from among the dead [meant].
11 And they asked Him, Why do the scribes say
that it is necessary for Elijah first to come? [Mal. 4:5, 6.]
12 And He said to them, Elijah, it is true, does come
first to restore all things avd ‘set them to right; and how
is it written of the Son of man that He will suffer many
things and be utterly despised and be treated with con-
tempt and rejected? [Is. 53:3.]
13 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and
[people] did to him whatever they desired, as it is writ-
ten of him.
14 And when they came to the [nine] disciples,
they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes ques-
tioning and disputing with them.
15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw
Jesus [returning from the holy mount, His face and
person yet glistening] were greatly amazed, and ran up
to Him [and] greeted Him.
16 And He asked them, About what are you ques-
tioning and discussing with them?
17 And one of the throng replied to Him, Teacher,
I brought my son to You, for he has a dumb spirit.
18 And wherever it lays hold of him (so as to make
him its own), it dashes him down and convulses him,
and he foams (at the mouth) and grinds his teeth, ard he
4Henry’s Commentary.”
*Trench’s “Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord.”
MARK 9 157
[falls into a motionless stupor] and is wasting away; and
I asked Your disciples to drive it out, and they were not
able [to do it].
19 And He answered them, O unbelieving genera-
tion — without any faith! How long "shall I Chave to do)
with your? How long am I to bear with you? Bring
him to Me.
20 So they brought [the boy] to Him, and when the
spirit saw Him, at once it completely convulsed the boy,
and he fell to the ground and kept rolling about, foam-
ing [at the mouth].
21 And [Jesus] asked his father, How long has he
had thisP And he answered, From the time he was a
little boy.
22 And it has often thrown him both into fire and
into water, intending to kill him; but if You can do
anything, do have pity on us and help us.
23 And Jesus said, [You say to Me], If You can do
anything? [Why,] all things can be — are possible — to
him who believes!
24 At once the father of the boy gave (Can ‘eager,
dpiercing, inarticulate) cry with tears, and he said, Lord,
I believe! Constantly help my ‘weakness of faith!
25 But when Jesus noticed that a crowd [of people]
came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit,
saying to it, You dumb and deaf spirit, I charge you to
come out of him and never go into him again.
26 And after giving a Choarse, clamoring, fear-
stricken) shriek of anguish and convulsing him terribly,
bWuest. ¢“Expositor’s Greek Testament.” 4Swete in ‘‘Mark.”
*Thayer.
158 MARK 9
it came out; and the boy lay Cpale and motionless) like a
corpse, so that many of them said, He is dead.
27 But Jesus took (*a strong grip of) his hand and
began lifting him up, and he stood.
28 And when He had gone indoors His disciples
asked Him privately, Why could not we drive it out?
29 And He replied to them, This kind cannot be
driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.
30 They went on from there, and passed along
through Galilee. And He did not wish to have anyone
know it,
31 For He was [engaged for the time in] teaching
His disciples. He said to them, The Son of man is
being delivered into the hands of men, and they will
put Him to death; and when He is killed, after three days
He will rise [*from death].
32 But they did not comprehend what He was say-
ing, and they were afraid to ask Him [what this state-
ment meant].
33 And they arrived at Capernaum; and when [they
were] in the house He asked them, What were you dis-
cussing and arguing about on the road?
34 But they kept still, for on the road they had dis-
cussed and disputed with one another as to who [was
the] greatest.
35 And He sat down and called the twelve [apos-
tles], and He said to them, If any one desires to be first,
he must be last of all and servant of all.
36 And He took a little child, and put him in the
bWuest. ¢Cremer.
MARK 9 159
center of their group; and taking him in [His] arms, He
said to them,
37 Whoever in My name and for My sake accepts
and receives and welcomes one such child, also accepts
and receives and welcomes Me; and whoever so receives
Me, receives not only Me, but Him Who sent Me.
38 John said to Him, Teacher, we saw a man driving
out demons in Your name who does not follow along
with us, and we forbade him to do it, because he δὶς
not of our band [of Your disciples].
39 But Jesus said, Do not restrain or hinder or for-
bid him; for no one who does a mighty work in My name
will soon afterward be able to speak evil of Me.
40 For he who is not against us is for us. [Num.
11:27-29.]
41 For I tell you truly, whoever gives you a cup of
water to drink because you belong to and bear the name
of Christ, will by no means fail to get his reward.
42 And whoever causes one of (these believers,
these little ones who "acknowledge and cleave to Me,
to stumble and sin, it would be better — more profhtable
and wholesome — for him if a Chuge) millstone were
hung about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
43 And if your hand puts a stumbling block before
you and causes you to sin, cut it off; it is more proftable
and wholesome for you to go into the life [‘that is really
worthwhile] maimed, than with two hands to go to hell
(Gehenna), into the fire that cannot be put out.‘
45 And if your foot is a cause of stumbling and sin
to you, cut it off! It is more prohtable and wholesome
®Thayer. bCremer. cW uest. 4See footnote, verse 45.
160 MARK 10
for you to enter into the life [that is really worthwhile]
crippled, than having two feet to be cast into hell
(Gehenna )*.
47 And if your eye causes you to stumble and sin,
pluck it out! It is more profitable and wholesome for
you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than with
two eyes to be thrown into hell CGehenna),
48 Where their worm [¢which preys on the inhabi-
tants, Cand is a symbol of.) the wounds inflicted on the
man himself by his sins] does not die, and the fire is not
put out. [Is. 66:24.]
49 For everyone shall be salted with fire.
50 Salt is good (beneficial); but if salt has lost its
saltness, how will you restore [the saltness to] it? Have
salt within yourselves, and be at peace and live in har-
mony with one another.
CHAPTER 10
ND [Jesus] left there [Capernaum] and went to
the region of Judea and beyond [east of] the
Jordan, and crowds (constantly) gathered around Him
again; and again, as was His custom, He began to teach
them.
2 And some Pharisees came up, and in order to test
Him and try to find a weakness in Him asked, Is it
lawful for a man to ‘dismiss and repudiate and divorce
his wife?
3 He answered them, What did Moses command
your
Verses. 44 and 46 (identical with verse 48) are omitted by the best
ancient authorities. 4Gould, quoted by Robertson, and by Swete.
Thayer.
MARK 10 161
4 They replied, Moses allowed a man to write a bill
of divorce, and to put her away. [Deut. 24:1-4.]
5 But Jesus said to them, Because of your hardness
of heart [that is, of *your condition of insensibility to
the call of God] he wrote you this ‘precept in your Law.
6 But from the beginning of creation God made
them male and female. [Gen. 1:27; 5:2.]
7 For this reason a man shall leave (behind) his
father and his mother and be %joined to his wife, and
cleave closely to her (permanently).
8 And the two shall become one flesh, so that they
are no longer two, but one Hesh. [Gen. 2:24.]
9 What therefore God has united --- joined together
— let not man separate or divide.
10 And indoors the disciples questioned Him again
about this subject.
11 And He said to them, Whoever ‘dismisses (re-
pudiates and divorces) his wife and marries another, com-
mits adultery against her;
12 And if a woman dismisses (repudiates and
divorces) her husband and marries another, she commits
adultery.
13 And they kept bringing young children to Him
that He might touch them; and the disciples were re-
proving them [for it].
14 But when Jesus saw [it], He was indignant and
bpained, and said to them, Allow the children to come to
Me—do not forbid or prevent or hinder them — for to
such belongs the kingdom of God.
15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive and
*Swete in “Mark.” ‘Thayer. Moulton and Milligan. "Robertson.
162 MARK 10
accept and welcome the kingdom of God as a little child
[does], positively shall not enter it at all.
16 And He took [the children up “one by one] in
His arms and (fervently invoked a) blessing, placing
His hands upon them.
17 And as He was setting out on His journey, a
man ran up and knelt before Him, and asked Him,
Teacher, CYou are ‘essentially and perfectly ¢morally)
good, what must I do to inherit eternal life (that is, to
partake of eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom)?
18 And Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me
C‘essentially and perfectly 4morally) good? ‘There is no
one (‘essentially and perfectly *morally)) good except God
alone.
19 You know the commandments: Do not kill; do
not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false wit-
ness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.
(Ex. 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20.]
20 And he replied to Him, Teacher, I have carefully
guarded and observed all these and taken care not to
violate them from my boyhood.
21 And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and He
said to him, You lack one thing; go and sell all you
have, and give [the money] to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven; and come [and] accompany Me
— ‘walking the same road that I walk.
22 At that saying the man’s countenance fell and
was gloomy, and he went away grieved and sorrowing,
for he was holding great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked around and said to His disciples,
«‘‘Expositor’s Greek Testament.’’ >Alford’s Greek Testament.
¢Thayer. aCremer. *Literal translation.
MARK 10 163
With what difficulty will those who possess wealth and
"keep on holding it enter the kingdom of God!
24 And the disciples were amazed and bewildered
and perplexed at His words. But Jesus said to them
again, Children, how hard it is for those who trust Cplace
their confidence, their sense of safety) in riches to enter
the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of
a needle than [for] a rich man to enter the kingdom of
God.
26 And they were shocked and exceedingly aston-
ished, and said to Him and *to one another, Then who
can be saved?
27 Jesus glanced around at them and said, With
men [it is] impossible, but not with God; for all things
are possible with God.
28 Peter started to say to Him, Lo, we have *yielded
up and abandoned everything (once and for all and
‘joined You as Your disciples, sided with Your party) and
accompanied You — ‘walking the same road that You
walk.
29 Jesus said, Truly, I tell you, there is no one who
has given up and left house or brothers or sisters or
mother or father or children or lands, for My sake and
for the Gospel,
30 Who will not receive a hundred times as much
now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and
mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and
in the age to come eternal life.
®Wuest. bMany ancient authorities read “to one another.”
¢ Thayer. 4Literal translation.
164 MARK 10
31 But many [that are now] first will be last [then],
and many [who are now] last will be first [then].
32 They were on the way going up to Jerusalem, and
Jesus was walking on in front of them; and they were
bewildered and perplexed and greatly astonished, and
[those who were still] following were seized with alarm
and were afraid. And He took the twelve [apostles]
again, and began to tell them what was about to happen
to Him.
33 [Saying], Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem;
and the Son of man will be turned over to the chief
priests and the scribes, and they will condemn and sen-
tence Him to death and turn Him over to the Gentiles.
34 And they will mock Him, and spit on Him, and
whip Him, and put Him to death; but after three days
He will rise again [*from death].
35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, ap-
proached Him, and said to Him, Teacher, we desire you
to do for us whatever we ask of You.
36 And He replied to them, What do you desire
Me to do for you?
37 And they said to Him, Grant that we may sit
one at Your right hand and one at [Your] left hand, in
Your glory — Your majesty and splendor.
38 But Jesus said to them, You do not know what
you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I
drink, or be baptized with the baptism [of affliction]
with which I am baptized?
39 And they replied to Him, We are able. And
Jesus told them, The cup that I drink you will drink,
eCremer.
MARK 10 165
and you will be baptized with the baptism with which
I am baptized;
40 But to sit at My right hand or at My left hand is
not Mine to give; but [will be given those] for whom
it is ordained and prepared.
41 And when the other ten [apostles] heard it, they
began to be indignant with James and John.
42 But Jesus called them to [Him], and said to
them, You know that those who are recognized as gov-
erning and are supposed to rule the Gentiles (the
nations) lord it over them — ruling with absolute power,
holding them in subjection — and their great men exer-
cise authority and dominion over them.
43 But this is not to be so among you; instead, who-
ever desires to be great among you must be your servant,
44 And whoever wishes to be most important and
frst in rank among you must be the slave of all.
45 For even the Son of man came not to have service
rendered to Him, but to serve, and to give His life as
a ransom for (“instead of) many.
46 Then they came to Jericho; and as He was Ieav-
ing Jericho with His disciples and a great crowd, Barti-
maeus, a blind beggar, a son of Timaeus, was sitting
by the roadside.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to shout saying, Jesus, Son of David, have
pity and mercy on me C*now)!
48 And many ‘severely censured and reproved him,
telling him to keep still; but he kept on shouting out
#*Vincent. bIn the aorist imperative. ( Wuest.) ¢Thayer.
166 MARK ΤΙ
all the more, You Son of David, have pity and mercy
on me (now)!
49 And Jesus stopped and said, Call him. And they
called the blind man, telling him, Take courage; get up,
He is calling you.
50 And throwing off his outer garment, he leaped
up and came to Jesus.
51] And Jesus said to him, What do you want Me to
do for you? And the blind man said to Him, Master,
let me receive my sight.
52 And Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith
has healed you. And at once he received his sight and
accompanied Jesus on the road. []5. 42:6, 7.]
CHAPTER 11
HEN they were getting near to Jerusalem, to
Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives,
He sent ahead two of His disciples,
2 And instructed them, Go into the village in front
of you, and as soon as you enter it you will find a colt
tied which has never been ridden by anyone; unfasten
it and bring it [here].
3 If anyone asks you, Why are you doing this?
answer, The Lord needs it, and He will send it back
here presently.
4 So they went away and found a colt tied at the
door out in the (winding) open street, and they loosed it.
5 And some who were standing there said to them,
What are you doing, untying the colt?
6 And they replied as Jesus had directed them, and
they allowed them to go.
MARK 11 167
7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and threw
their outer garments upon it, and He sat on it.
8 And many [of the people] spread their garments
on the road, and others scattered (a layer of) leafy
branches which they had cut from the fields.
9 And those who went before and those who fol-
lowed cried out, "Hosanna! (Be graciously inclined and
propitious [to Him]! Praised and blessed be He Who
comes in the name of the Lord! [Ps. 118:26.]
10 Praised and blessed in the name of the Lord
be the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna
CO save us) in the highest Cheaven)!
11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem, and entered the
temple (enclosure); and when He had looked around,
surveying and observing everything, as it was already
late He went out to Bethany together with the twelve
[apostles].
12 On the day following, when they had come
away from Bethany, He was hungry.
13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree [covered]
with leaves, He went to see if He could find any [fruit]
on it [*for in the fig tree the fruit appears at the same
time as the leaves]. But when He came up to it, He
found nothing but leaves, for the fig season had not yet
come.
14 And He said to it, No one ever again shall eat
fruit from you. And His disciples were listening [to
what He said].
15 And they came to Jerusalem. And He went into
the temple (area, "porches and courts) and began to
mA cry of happiness €—Souter
*International Standard Bible en ee
bTrench’s “Synonyms of the New Testament.”
168 MARK 11
drive out those who sold and bought in the temple area,
and He overturned the C‘four-footed)) tables of the
money-changers and the seats of those who dealt in doves;
16 And He would not permit any one to carry any
household equipment through the temple enclosure [thus
making the temple area a short-cut traffic lane].
17 And He taught, and said to them, Is it not writ-
ten, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all
the nations? But you have turned it into a den of
robbers. [Is. 56:7; Jer. 7:11.]
18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard [of
this] and kept seeking some way to destroy Him, for they
feared Him, because the entire multitude was struck
with astonishment at His teaching.
19 And when evening came on, He and [*His dis-
ciples] as accustomed went out of the city.
20 In the morning when they were passing along,
they noticed that the fig tree was withered (completely )
away to its roots.
21 And Peter remembered and said to Him, Master,
look! The fig tree which You doomed has withered away!
22 And Jesus replying said to them, Have faith in
God Cconstantly).
23 Truly, I tell you, whoever says to this mountain,
Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt
at all in his heart, but believes that what he says will
take place, it will be done for him.
24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever you
ask for in prayer, believe — trust and be confident — that
it is granted to you, and you will [get it].
¢Moulton and Milligan. 4Some authorities read “‘they.”
MARK ΤΊ 169
25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have
anything against any one, forgive him and let it drop —
leave it, let it go—in order that your Father Who is in
heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and
shortcomings and let them drop.
26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father
in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings.
27 And they came again to Jerusalem. And when
Jesus was walking about in the (‘courts and porches of
the) temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the
elders came to Him,
28 And they kept saying to Him, By what (sort of)
authority are You doing these things, or who gave You
this authority to do them?
29 Jesus told them, I will ask you a question. Answer
Me, and then I will tell you by what (sort of) authority
I do these things.
30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from
men? Answer Me.
31 And they reasoned and argued with one another,
If we say, From heaven, He will say, Why then did
you not believe him?
32 But [on the other hand] can we say, from men?
For they were afraid of the people, because everybody
considered and held John actually to be a prophet.
33 So they replied to Jesus, We do not know. And
Jesus said to them, Neither am I going to tell you what
Csort of) authority I have for doing these things.
bMoulton and Milligan. ¢Trench.
170 MARK 12
CHAPTER 12
ND [Jesus] started to speak to them in parables
— [that is,] with comparisons and illustrations. A
man planted a vineyard, and put a hedge about it, and
dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and let it
out [for rent] to vinedressers, and went into another
country.
2 When the season came, he sent a bond servant to
the tenants, to collect from them some of the fruit of
the vineyard.
3 But they took him and beat him, and sent him
away without anything.
4 Again he sent to them another bond servant, and
they stoned him and wounded him in the head and
treated him shamefully — sending him away with insults.
5 And he sent another, and that one they killed;
then many others, some they beat and some they put
to death.
6 He had still one left, a beloved son; last of all
he sent him to them, saying, They will respect my son.
7 But those tenants said to one another, Here is the
heir; come on, let us put him to death, and [then] the
inheritance will be ours.
8 And they took him and killed him, and threw [his
body] outside the vineyard.
9 Now what will the owner of the vineyard do? He
will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard
to others.
10 Have you not even read this [passage of] Scrip-
ture: The very Stone which [after putting It to the
sWuest.
MARK 12 171
test] the builders rejected, has become the Head of the
corner;
11 This is from the Lord and is His doing, and it
is marvelous in our eyes? [Ps. 118:22, 23.]
12 And they were trying to get hold of Him, but
they were afraid of the people, for they knew that He
spoke this parable with reference to and against them.
So they left Him and departed. [Is. 5:1-7.]
13 But they sent some of the Pharisees and of
the Herodians to Him, for the purpose of entrapping
Him in His speech.
14 And they came up and said to Him, Teacher, we
know that You are "sincere and what You profess to be;
that You cannot lie and that You have no personal bias
for any one; for You are not influenced by partiality and
have no ‘regard for any one’s external condition or
position, but [on the basis of] truth You teach the way
of God. Is it lawful (permissible and right) to give
tribute (‘poll taxes) to Caesar, or not?
15 Should we pay [them], or should we not pay
{them]? But knowing their hypocrisy, He asked them,
Why do you put Me to the test? Bring Me a coin (a
denarius), so I may see it.
16 And they brought [Him one}. Then He asked
them, Whose image (picture) is this, and whose super-
scription (title)? They said to Him, Caesar’s.
17 Jesus said to them, Pay to Caesar the things that
are Caesar’s, and to °God the things that are God’s. And
they ‘stood marveling and greatly amazed at Him.
18 And [some] Sadducees came to Him, [of that
>Cremer. “Thayer, tWuest. *A rebuke of Emperor worship.
172 MARK 12
party] that say there is no resurrection; and they asked
Him a question, saying,
19 ‘Teacher, Moses gave us [a law] that if a man’s
brother died leaving a wife but no child, the man must
marry the widow, and raise up offspring for his brother.
[Deut. 25:5.]
20 Now there were seven brothers; the first one took
a wife and died leaving no children;
21 And the second [brother] married her, and died,
leaving no children; and the third did the same,
22 And all seven, leaving no children. Last of all the
woman died also.
23 Now in the resurrection, whose wife will she be?
For the seven were married to her.
24 Jesus said to them, Is not this where you wander
out of the way and go wrong, because you know neither
the Scriptures nor the power of God?
25 For when they arise from among the dead, [men]
do not marry nor are [women] given in marriage, but
are like the angels in heaven.
26 But concerning the dead being raised, have you
not read in the book of Moses, [in the passage] about the
[burning] bush, how God said to him, I am the God
of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob? [Ex. 3:2-6.]
27 He is not the God of [the] dead, but of [the] liv-
ing! You are very wrong.
28 Then one of the scribes came up and listened
to them disputing with one another, and noticing that
Jesus answered them fitly and admirably, he asked Him,
MARK 12 173
Which commandment is first and most important of all
(4in its nature)?
29 Jesus answered, The first and principal one of
all commands is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is
one Lord;
30 And you shall love the Lord your God ‘out of
and with your whole heart, and out of and with all your
soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind —
[that is] with “your faculty of thought and your moral
understanding — and out of and-with all your strength.
This is the first and principal commandment. [Deut.
6:4, 5.]
31 The second is like it and is this, You shall love
your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command-
ment greater than these. [Lev. 19:18.]
32 And the scribe said to Him, Excellently and fitly
and admirably answered, Teacher! You have said truly
that He is One, and there is no other but He;
33 And to love Him out of all the heart, and with all
the understanding — [that is] with the “faculty of quick
apprehension and intelligence and keenness of discern-
ment — and with all the strength, and to love one’s
neighbor as oneself, is much more than all the whole
burnt offerings and sacrifices. [I Sam. 15:22; Hos. 6:6;
Mic. 6:6-8.]
34 And when Jesus saw that he answered intelli-
gently — discreetly and “having his wits about him — He
said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God.
And after that no one ventured or dared to ask Him
any further question.
¢Vincent. ¢Cremer.
174 MARK 12
35. And as Jesus taught in (a “porch or court of) the
temple, He said, How can the scribes say that the Christ
is David's Son?
36 David, himself Cinspired), in the Holy Spirit de-
clared, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand
until 1 make Your enemies (a footstool) under Your feet.
[Ps. 110:1.]
37 David himself calls Him Lord, so how can it
be that He is his Son? Now the great mass of the
people heard [Jesus] gladly — listening to Him with de-
light.
38 And in [the course of] His teaching He said,
Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long
robes, and [to get] greetings in the market places [public
forums],
39 And the front seats in the synagogues and the
dchief couches (places of honor) at feasts,
40 Who devour widows’ houses and to cover it up
make long prayers. ‘They will receive the heavier
(sentence ΟΕ) condemnation.
41 And He sat down opposite the treasury and saw
how the crowd was casting money into the treasury.
Many rich [people] were throwing in large sums.
42 And a widow who was poverty-stricken came and
put in two copper mites [the smallest of coins], which
together make ‘half of a cent.
43 And He called His disciples to [Him] and said
to them, Truly and surely I tell you, this widow, Cand
she) poverty-stricken, has put in more than all those con-
tributing to the treasury.
"Trench. tDavis’ ‘“‘Dictionary of the Bible.”
MARK 13 175
44 For they all threw in out of their abundance,
but she out of her deep poverty has put in everything
that she had, [even] all she had on which to live.
CHAPTER 13
ND as [Jesus] was coming out of the temple
(area), one of His disciples said to Him, Look,
Teacher! Notice the sort and quality of these stones and
buildings!
2 And Jesus replied to him, You see these great
buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon
another that will not be loosened and torn down.
3 And as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the
temple (*enclosure), Peter and James and John and
Andrew asked Him privately,
4 Tell us when is this to take place and what will
be the sign when these things, all [of them], are about
to be accomplished?
5 And Jesus began to tell them, Be careful and
watchful that no one misleads you [about it].
6 Many will come (appropriating to themselves)
the name (of Messiah) which belongs to Me — ‘basing
their claims on the use of My name — saying I am [He]!
and they wil! mislead many.
7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars,
do not get alarmed — troubled and frightened; it is neces-
sary [that these things] take place, but the end is not yet.
8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various
places; there will be famines and calamities, this is but
«Trench. bThayer. ¢Vincent.
176 MARK 13
a beginning of the "intolerable anguish and sufferings —
only the first of the “birth pangs.
9 But look to yourselves, for they will turn you over
to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues,
and you will stand before governors and kings for My
sake, for a testimony to them.
10 And the good news (the Gospel) must first be
preached to all nations.
11 .Now when they take you [to court] and put you
under arrest, do not be anxious beforehand about what
you are to say nor [even] meditate about it; but say
whatever is given you in that hour and at *the moment,
for it is not you who will be speaking but the Holy
Spirit.
12 And brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child, and children will take a stand
against their parents and [have] them put to death,
13 And you will be hated and detested by everybody
for My name’s sake. But he who patiently perseveres
and endures to the end will be saved [that is, "made a
partaker of the salvation by Christ, and delivered >from
spiritual death].
14 But when you see the abomination of desolation
mentioned by Daniel the prophet standing where it ought
not to be, [and] let the one who reads take notice and
consider and understand and heed [this], then let those
who are in Judea flee to the mountains. [Dan. 11:3];
12:11.]
15 Let him who is on the housetop not go down
into the house, nor go inside to take anything out of
his house;
“Moulton and Milligan. >Thayer. ¢Literal meaning.
MARK 13 177
16 And let him who is in the field not turn back
again to get his mantle (cloak).
17 And alas for those who are pregnant and for
those who have nursing babies in those days!
18 Pray that it may not occur in winter,
19 For at that time there will be such affliction —
oppression and tribulation —as has not been from the
beginning of the creation which God created until this
particular time, and ‘positively never will be [again].
20 And unless the Lord had shortened the days, no
human being would be saved (rescued); but for the
sake of the elect, His chosen ones— those whom He
‘picked out for Himself — He has shortened the days.
[Dan. 12:1.]
21 And then if any one says to you, See, here is
the Christ! or, Look, there He is! do not believe it.
22 False Christs CMessiahs) and false prophets will
arise and show signs and (work) miracles to deceive and
lead astray, if possible, even the elect — those God has
chosen out for Himself.
23 But look to yourselves and be on your guard; I
have told you everything beforehand.
24 But in those days, after (the affliction and oppres-
sion and distress of) that tribulation, the sun will be
darkened, and the moon will not give its light. [15.
13:10.]
25 And the stars will be falling from the sky, and
the powers in the heavens will be shaken. [Is. 34:4.]
26 And then they will see the Son of man coming
eWuest. ¢Abbott-Smith.
178 MARK 13
in clouds with great (kingly) power and glory (majesty
and splendor). [Dan. 7:13, 14.]
27 And then He will send out the angels and will
gather together His elect — those He has "picked out for
Himself — from the four winds, from the farthest bounds
of the earth to the farthest bounds of heaven.
28 Now learn a lesson from the fig tree; as soon as its
branch becomes tender, and it puts forth its leaves, you
recognize and know that summer is near.
29 So also, when you see these things happening,
you will recognize and know that Fle is near, at [the
very] door.
30 Surely, I say to you, this generation [%the whole
multitude of people living at that one time] positively
will not perish or pass away before all these things take
place.
31 Heaven and earth will perish and pass away, but
My words will not perish or pass away.
32 But of that day or that hour not a [single] person
knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,
but only the Father.
33 Be on your guard (constantly alert) and watch
and pray, for you do not know when the time will come.
34 It is like a man (already) going on a journey;
when he leaves home he puts his servants in charge, each
with his particular task, and he gives orders to the door-
keeper to be constantly alert and on the watch.
35 Therefore watch — give strict attention, be cautious
and alert — for you do not know when the Master of the
4A bbott-Smith.
Cremer; Thayer, and Abbott-Smith. bWycliffe; Tyndale.
MARK 14 179
house is coming, in the evening, or at midnight, or at
cockcrowing, or in the morning.
36 [Watch, I say] lest He come suddenly and un-
expectedly and find you asleep.
37 An what I say to you I say to everybody: CGive
strict attention, be cautious, active, alert, and) watch!
CHAPTER 14
T was now two days before the Passover and the
Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and
the scribes were all the while seeking to arrest [Jesus]
by secrecy and deceit, and put [Him] to death,
2 For they kept saying, It must not be during the
feast, for fear there might be a riot of the people.
3. And while He was in Bethany, [a guest] in the
house of Simon the leper, as He was reclining [at table],
a woman came with an alabaster jar of ointment (*per-
fume) of pure nard, very costly and precious, and she
broke the jar and poured [the perfume] over His head.
4 But there were some who were moved with in-
dignation and said to themselves, To what purpose was
the ointment (*perfume) thus wasted?
5 For it was possible to have sold this [perfume] for
more than three hundred denarii [a laboring man’s
wages for a vear], and to have given [them] to the poor.
And they censured and reproved her.
6 But Jesus said, Let her alone; why are you troub-
ling her? She has done a good and beautiful thing to
Me — praiseworthy and noble.
7 For vou always have the poor with you, and when-
®Moulton and Milligan.
180 MARK 14
ever you wish you can do good to them; but you will
not always have Me. [Deut. 15:11.]
8 She has done what she could; she came beforehand
to anoint My body for the burial.
9 And surely, I tell you, wherever the good news (the
Gospel) is proclaimed in the entire world, what she has
done will be told for a memorial of her.
10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve
[apostles], went off to the chief priests in order to betray
and hand Him over to them.
11 And when they heard it they rejoiced and were
delighted, and they promised to give him money. And
he Cbusying himself continually) sought an opportunity
to betray Him.
12 On the first day [of the feast] of Unleavened
Bread, when [as was customary] they killed the passover
lamb, [Jesus’] disciples said to Him, Where do You wish
us to go [and] prepare the passover [supper] for You
to eatP
13. And He sent two of His disciples, and said to
them, Go into the city, and a man carrying an Cearthen-
ware) jar or pitcher of water will meet you; follow him.
14 And whatever [house] he enters, say to the master
of the house, The Teacher says, Where is My guest room,
where 1 may eat the passover [supper] with My disciples?
15 And he will [himself] show you a large upper
room furnished [that is, with carpets and with dining
couches properly spread] and ready; there prepare for us.
16 ‘Then the disciples set out and came to the city,
and found [everything] as He had told them; and they
prepared the passover.
MARK 14 181
17 And when it was evening He came with the
twelve [apostles].
18 And while they were at the table eating, Jesus
said, Surely, I say to you, one of you will betray Me,
[one] who is eating [here] with Me. [Ps. 41:9.]
19 And they began to show that they were sad and
hurt, and to say to Him one after another, Is it I? or, It
is not I, is it?
20 He replied to them, It is one of the twelve [apos-
tles], one who is dipping [bread] into the (same deep)
dish with Me.
21 For the Son of man goes as it stands written
concerning Him, but woe to that man by whom the
Son of man is betrayed! It would have been good (proft-
able and wholesome) for that man if he had never been
born. [Ps. 41:9.]
22 And while they were eating, He took a loaf [of
bread], praised God and gave thanks and asked Him to
bless it to their use. [Then] He broke [it], and gave
to them, and said, Take. Eat. ‘This is My body.
23 He also took a cup [of juice of grapes], and when
He had given thanks He gave [it] to them, and they all
drank of it.
24 And He said to them, This is My blood [which
ratifies] the new covenant, [the blood] which is being
poured out for Con account of,) many. [Ex. 24:8.]
25 Solemnly and surely, I tell you, I shall not again
drink of the fruit of the vine till that day when I drink
it Sof a new and a higher quality in God’s kingdom.
€Vincent.
182 MARK 14
26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went
out to the Mount of Olives.
27 And Jesus said to them, You will all fall away
this night — [that is,] you will be caused to stumble and
will begin to distrust and desert Me; for it stands written,
I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scat-
tered. [Zech. 13:7.]
28 But after I am raised [to life], I will go before
you into Galilee.
29 But Peter said to Him, Even if they all fall away
and are caused to stumble and distrust and desert You,
yet I will not [do so]!
30 And Jesus said to him, Truly, I tell you, this very
night, before a cock crows twice, you will utterly deny
Me — disclaiming all connection with Me — three times.
31 But [Peter] said more vehemently and repeatedly.
[Even] if it should be necessary for me to die with You,
I will not deny or disown You! And they all kept saying
the same thing.
32 Then they went to a place called Gethsemane,
and He said to His disciples, Sit down here while 1 pray.
33 And He took with Him Peter and James and
John, and began to be £struck with terror and amazement
and deeply troubled and depressed.
34 And He said to them, My soul is exceedingly
sad — overwhelmed with grief —so that it almost kills
Me! Remain here, and "keep awake and be watching.
35 And going a little farther, He fell on the ground
and kept praying that, if it were possible, the [#fatal]
hour might pass from Him.
©Thayer. bA}ternate reading.
MARK 14 183
36 And He was saying, Abba, [which means] Father,
everything is possible for You; take away this cup from
Me; yet not what I will, but what You [will].
37 And He came back and found them sleeping,
and He said to Peter, Simon, are you asleep? Have you
not the strength to "keep awake and watch [with Me]
one hour?
38 "Keep awake and watch and pray Cconstantly)
that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed
is willing, but the flesh is weak.
39 He went away again and prayed, saying the same
words.
40 And again He came back and found them sleep-
ing, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not
know what answer to give Him.
41 And He came back a third time, and said to
them, Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough
[of that]. The hour has come. The Son of man is be-
trayed into the hands of sinful men — [that is,] of men
‘whose way or nature is to act in opposition to God.
42 Gct up, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at
hand.
43 And at once, while He was still speaking, Judas
came, one of the twelve [apostles], and with him a
crowd of men with swords and clubs, [who came] from
the chief priests and the scribes and the elders [of the
Sanhedrin].
44 Now the betrayer had given them a signal, saying,
The one I shall kiss is [the Man]; seize Him and lead
[Him] away safely — so as to prevent His escape.
bAlternate reading. 1Cremer.
184 MARK 14
45 And when he came he went up to Jesus imme-
diately, and said, Master! Master! and he "embraced Him
and kissed Him fervently.
46 And they threw their hands on Him and arrested
Him.
47 But one of the bystanders drew his sword, and
struck the bond servant of the high priest and cut off
his ear.
48 And Jesus said to them, Have you come out as
against a robber, to capture Me with swords and clubs?
49 I was with you daily in the temple (porches and
courts) teaching, and you did not seize Me; but that
the Scriptures be fulfilled.
50 Then [His disciples], forsaking Him, fled, all [of
them].
51 And a young man was following Him, with
nothing but a linen cloth (‘sheet) thrown about [his]
naked [body]; and they laid hold of him,
52 But leaving behind the linen cloth (‘sheet), he
fled from them naked.
53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest, and
all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes were
gathered together.
54 And Peter followed Him at a distance, even right
into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting
C4in the firelight) with the guards, and warming himself
at the fre.
55 Now the chief priests and the entire council (the
Sanhedrin) were constantly seeking [to get] testimony
@Meyer’s ‘‘Commentary on Mark.” bSouter. ¢Trench. 4Vincent.
MARK 14 185
against Jesus with a view to condemning Him and put-
ting Him to death, but they did not find any.
56 For many were repeatedly bearing false witness
against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.
57 And some stood up and were bearing false wit-
ness against Him, saying,
58 We heard Him say, 1 will destroy this temple
(sanctuary) which is made with hands, and in three
days I will build another, made without hands.
59 Still not even [in this] did their testimony agree.
60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and
asked Jesus, Have You not even one answer to make?
What [about this which] these [men] are testifying
against You?
61 But He kept still and did not answer at all.
Again the high priest asked Him, Are you the Christ —
the Messiah, the Anointed One — the Son of the Blessed?
62 And Jesus said, I AM; and vou will (all) see the
Son of man seated at the right hand of Power (Ἴδε Al-
mighty), and coming with the clouds of heaven. [Ps.
110:1; Dan. 7:13.]
63 Then the high priest tore his garments, and said,
What need have we for more witnesses? [Num. 14:6.]
64 You have heard His blasphemy. What is your
decision? And they all condemned Him as being guilty
and deserving death. [Lev. 24:16.]
65 And some of them began to spit on Him, and
to blindfold Him, and to strike Him with their fists,
saving to Him, Prophesy! And the guards received Him
with blows and by slapping Him.
°*Thayer.
186 MARK 15
66 While Peter was down below in the courtyard,
one of the (serving) maids of the high priest came;
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she
gazed intently at him, and said, You were with Jesus
of Nazareth too.
68 But he denied it *falsely and disowned Him, say-
ing, I neither know nor understand what you say. Then
he went outside [the courtyard and was] in the »vestibule
to it. And a cock crowed.
69 And the maid servant saw him, and began again
to say to the bystanders, This [man] is [one] of them.
70 But again he denied it “falsely and disowned
Him. And after a short while again the bystanders said
to Peter, *Really you are one of them, for you are a
Galilean, and your dialect shows it.
71 Then he commenced invoking a curse on himself
[if he were not telling the truth] and to swear, I do not
know the Man about Whom you are talking!
72 And at once for the second time a cock crowed.
And Peter remembered how Jesus said to him, Before
a cock crows twice, you will C°utterly) deny Me — dis-
claiming all connection with Me —three times. And
chaving put his thought upon it, he broke down and
wept aloud and “lamented.
CHAPTER 15
ND immediately when it was morning the chief
priests, with the elders and scribes and the whole
council, held a consultation; and when they had bound
Jesus they took Him away [®violently] and handed Him
over to Pilate. [Is. 53:8.]
*Cremer. bVincent. cWuest. aThayer.
MARK 15 187
2 And Pilate inquired of Him, Are You the King
of the Jews? And He replied, It is as you say.
3. And the chief priests kept accusing Him of many
things.
4 And Pilate again asked Him, Have *You no answer
to make? See how many charges they are bringing
against You!
5 But Jesus made no further answer at all, so that
Pilate wondered and marveled. [Is. 53:7.]
6 Now at the feast he [was accustomed] to set free
for them any one prisoner whom they requested.
7 And among the rioters in the prison who had
committed murder in the insurrection there was a man
named Barabbas.
8 And the throng came up and began asking Pilate
to do as he usually did for them.
9 And he replied to them, Do you wish me to set
free for you the King of the Jews?
10 For he was aware that it was (‘because they were
prompted) by envy that the chief priests had delivered
Him up.
11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd [to get]
him to release for them Barabbas instead.
12 And again Pilate said to them, Then what shall
I do [with the Man] Whom you call the King of the
Jews?
12 And they shouted back again, Crucify Him!
14 But Pilate said to them, (Why?) What has He
done that is evil? But they shouted with all their might
the more, Crucify Him [¢at once]!
‘Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speaker may have
thought Ile was. dThayer. >Wuest.
188 MARK 15
15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, set Barab-
bas free for them; and after having whipped Jesus, he
handed [Him] over to be crucified. [Is. 53:5.]
16 Then the soldiers led Him away to the courtyard
inside the palace which is the praetorium, and they
called the entire detachment of soldiers together.
17 And they dressed Him in a purple [robe], and
weaving together a crown of thorns they placed it on
Him.
18 And they began to salute Him, Hail (greeting,
good health to You, long life to You), King of the Jews!
19 And they struck His head with a staff made of
a [bamboo-like] reed, and spat on Him, and kept bowing
their knees in homage to Him. [Is. 50:6.]
20 And when they had [finished] making sport of
Him, they took the purple [robe] off of Him, and put
His own clothes on Him. And they led Him out [of the
city] to crucify Him.
21 And they forced a passerby, Simon of Cyrene,
the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in
from the field (country), to carry His cross.
22 And they led Him to Golgotha [in Latin, Cal-
vary], meaning the place of a skull.
23. And they (attempted to) give Him wine mingled
with myrrh, but He would not take it.
24 And they crucified Him, and divided His gar-
ments and distributed them among them, throwing lots
for them, to decide who should take each. [Ps. 22:18.]
25 And it was the third hour (about nine o'clock in
the morning) when they crucified Him. [Ps. 22:14-16.]
MARK 15 189
26 And the inscription of the accusation against Him
was written above, The King of the Jews.
27 And with Him they crucified two robbers, one
on [His] right hand and one on His left.
28 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, He
was counted among the transgressors. [ls. 53:12.]
29 And those who passed by kept reviling Him and
reproaching Him abusively in harsh and insolent lan-
guage, wagging their heads and saying, Aha! You Who
would destroy the temple and build it in three days,
30 Now rescue ‘Yourself (*from death), coming
down from the cross!
31 So also the chief priests with the scribes made
sport of Him to one another, saying, He rescued others
C*from death); Himself He is unable to rescue. [Ps.
22:7, 8.]
32 Let the Christ, the Messiah, the King of Israel,
come down now from the cross, that we may see [it] and
trust in and rely on Him and adhere to Him! Those who
were crucified with Him also reviled and reproached Him
— speaking abusively, harshly and insolently.
33 And when the sixth hour had come (about mid-
day), there was darkness over the whole land until the
ninth hour (about three o'clock).
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud
voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which means, My
God, My God, why have You forsaken Me — 'deserting
Me and leaving Me helpless and abandoned? [Ps. 22:1.]
35 And some of those standing by [and] hearing it
said, See! He is calling Elijah!
“Cremer. >Thayer.
‘Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speakers may have
thought He was.
190 MARK 15
36 And one man ran, and, filling a sponge with
vinegar [a mixture of sour wine and water], put it on
a staff made of a [bamboo-like] reed, and gave it to Him
to drink, saying, Hold off! Let us see whether Elijah
[does] come to take Him down. [Ps. 69:21.]
37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed out
His life.
38 And the curtain [of the Holy of Holies] of the
temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
39 And when the centurion who stood facing Him
saw Him expire this way, he said, *Really this Man was
God’s Son!
40 Now some women were there also, looking on
from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene,
and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses,
and Salome,
41 Who, when [Jesus] was in Galilee, were in the
habit of accompanying and ministering to Him; and also
many other [women] who came up with Him to Jeru-
salem.
42 As evening had already come, since it was the
day of Preparation, that is, [the day] before the Sabbath,
[Deut. 21:22, 23.]
43 Joseph, he of Arimathea, noble and honorable
in rank and a respected member of the council (Sanhe-
drin), who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God,
daring the consequences, took courage and ventured to
go to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
44 But Pilate wondered whether He was dead so
*Cremer, bThayer.
MARK 16 19]
soon, and having called the centurion, he asked him
whether [Jesus] was already dead.
45 And when he learned from the centurion [that
He was indeed dead], he gave the body to Joseph.
46 And Joseph bought a (fine) linen cloth [ἴοι
swathing dead bodies], and taking Him down from the
cross, he 9rolled Him up in the (fine) linen cloth; and
placed Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a
rock. Then he rolled a [¢very large] stone against the
door of the tomb. [Is. 53:9.]
47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary [the mother] of
Joses were Cfattentively) observing where He was laid.
CHAPTER 16
ND when the Sabbath was past [that is, after the
sun had set], Mary Magdalene, and Mary [the
mother] of James, and Salome purchased sweet-smelling
spices, so that they might go and anoint [Jesus’ body].
2 And very early on the first day of the week they
came to the tomb; [by then] the sun had risen.
3 And they said to one another, Who will roll back
the stone for us out of [the groove across the floor at]
the door of the tomb?
4 And when they looked up, they [distinctly] saw
that the stone was already rolled back, for it was very
large.
5 And going into the tomb, they saw a young man
sitting [there] on the right [side], clothed in a (long,
stately, sweeping) robe of white, and they were utterly
amazed and struck with terror.
*Moulton and Milligan. dYoung. ¢Chap. XVI:4. fVincent,
Trench.
192 MARK 16
6 And he said to them, Do not be amazed and ter-
rihed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth Who was
crucified. He is risen; He is not here. See the place
where they laid Him. [Ps. 16:10.]
7 But be going; tell the disciples and Peter, He
goes before you into Galilee; you will see Him there,
[just] as He told you.
8 ‘Then they went out [and] fled from the tomb, for
trembling and bewilderment and consternation had seiz-
ed them. And they said nothing about it to any one,
for they were held by alarm and fear.
9 4Now Jesus, having risen (from death) early on
the first day of the week, appeared first to Mary
Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven
demons.
10 She went and reported it to those who had been
with Him, as they grieved and wept.
11 And when they heard that He was alive and that
she had seen Him, they did not believe it.
12 After this He appeared in a different form to
two of them, as they were walking [along the way] into
the country.
13 And they returned [to Jerusalem] and told the
others, but they did not believe them either.
14 Afterward He appeared to the eleven [apostles,
themselves] as they reclined at table; and He reproved
and reproached them for their unbelief Ctheir lack of
faith.) and their hardness of heart, because they had re-
fused to believe those who had seen Him and looked at
Him attentively after He was risen (*from death).
“Verses 9 to 20 not in the two earliest manuscripts. eCremer.
MARK 16 193
15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and
preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel)
to every creature Cof the whole thuman race).
16 He who believes — [that is,] who adheres to and
trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it
sets forth—and is baptized will be saved [*from the
penalty of eternal death}; but he who does not believe —
who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gos-
pel and Him Whom it sets forth — will be condemned.
17 And these attesting signs will accompany those
who believe: in My name they will drive out demons;
they will speak in new languages;
18 They will pick up serpents, and [even] if they
drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will
lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to
them, was taken up into heaven and He sat down at the
right hand of God. [Ps. 110:1.]
20 And they went out and preached everywhere,
while the Lord kept working with them and confirming
the message by the attesting signs and miracles that close-
ly accompanied [it]. Amen -—so be it.
*Cremer. t'Thayer.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING
TO
LUKE
CHAPTER 1
INCE (4as is well known) many have undertaken to
put in order and draw up a (thorough) narrative of
the surely established deeds which have been accom-
plished and fulfilled *in and among us,
2 Exactly as they were handed down to us by those
who from the Cofhcial) beginning [of Jesus’ ministry]
were eye-witnesses and ministers of the Word [that is, of
bthe doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ
of salvation in the kingdom of God],
3 It seeming good and desirable to me, [I have de-
termined] also after ‘having searched out diligently and
followed all things closely and traced accurately the
course from the highest to the minutest detail from the
very first, to write an orderly account for you, most ex-
cellent Theophilus.
4 [My purpose is] that you may know the full truth,
and understand with certainty and security against error
the accounts Chistories) and doctrines of the faith of
which you have been informed and in which you have
been “orally instructed.
5 In the days when Herod was king of Judea, there
was a certain priest whose name was Zachariah, ‘of the
daily service (the division) of Abia; and his wife was
also a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
4Vincent’s ‘‘Word Studies in the New Testament.”
°Wycliffe’s Version of the New Testament.
bThayer’s ‘Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament—Grimm.”’
¢Tyndale’s Version of the New Testament,
194
LUKE 1 195
6 And they both were righteous in the sight of God,
walking blamelessly in all the commandments and re-
quirements of the Lord.
7 But they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren,
and both were ‘far advanced in years.
8 Now while on duty, serving as priest before God
in the order of his division,
9 As was the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him
by lot to enter (the “sanctuary of) the temple of the Lord
and burn incense. [Ex. 30:7.]
10 And all the throng of people were praying out-
side [in the court] at the hour of incense [burning].
11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord,
standing at [the} right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zachariah saw him he was troubled,
and fear took possession of him.
13 But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid,
Zachariah, because your petition *was heard, and your
wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must call
his name John [meaning God is favorable].
14 And you shall have joy and exultant delight, and
many will rejoice over his birth,
15 For he will be great and distinguished in the
sight of the Lord. And he must drink no wine nor strong
drink, and he will be filled with avd controlled by the
Holy Spirit, even ‘in and from his mother’s womb.
[Num. 6:3.]
16 And he will turn and cause to return many of the
sons of Israel to the Lord their God,
17 And he will [himself} go before Him in the spirit
¢ Wycliffe. 4 Trench’s “Synonyms of the New Testament.”’
ὁ Tyndale.
196 LUKE 1
and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of the fathers
to the children, and the disobedient and incredulous
and unpersuadable to the wisdom of the upright [which
is 8the knowledge and holy love of the will of God], in
order to make ready for the Lord a people [perfectly]
prepared — in spirit, "adjusted and disposed and placed
in the right moral state. [Mal. 4:5, 6; Is. 40:3.]
18 And Zachariah said to the angel, by what shall
I know and be sure of this? For I am an old man, and
my wife is well advanced in years.
19 And the angel replied to him, 1 am Gabriel; I
stand in the [very] presence of God, and I was sent to
talk to you, and to bring you this good news. [Dan.
8:16; 9:21.]
20 And lo, you will be and will continue to be silent,
and not able to speak till the day when these things
take place, because you have not believed what I told you;
but my words are "of a kind which will be fulfilled in
the appointed and proper time.
21 Now the people kept waiting for Zachariah, and
they wondered at his delaying [so long] in the ‘sanctuary.
22 But when he did come out, he was unable to
speak to them, and they ("clearly perceived that he had
seen a vision in the ‘sanctuary; and he kept making signs
to them, still he remained dumb.
23 And when his time of performing priestly func-
tions was ended, he returned to his [own] house.
24 Now after this his wife Elizabeth became preg-
nant, and for five months she secluded herself ‘entirely,
saying, [I have hid myself]
25 4Because thus the Lord has dealt with me in the
® Thayer. 2 Vincent. 1 Trench.
LUKE 1 197
days when He deigned to look on me, to take away my
reproach among men. [Gen. 30:23; Is. 4:1.]
26 Now in the sixth month after that, the angel
Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named
Nazareth,
27 ‘Toa girl never having been married and a 'virgin,
engaged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph,
a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s
name was Mary.
28 And he came to her and said, Hail, O favored
one C@endued with grace), the Lord is with you! Blessed,
favored of God are you before all other women!
29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled
and disturbed and confused at what he said, and kept
revolving in her mind what such a greeting might mean.
30 And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid,
Mary, for you have found grace — “free, spontancous,
absolute favor and loving kindness — with God.
31 And listen! You will become pregnant and will
give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus.
32 He will be great Ceminent) and will be called the
Son of the Most High; and the Lord will give to Him
the throne of His forefather David,
33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob
throughout the ages, and of His reign there will be
no end. [Is. 9:6,7; Dan. 2:44.]
34 And Mary said to the angel, How can this be,
since [ have no [intimacy with any man as a] husband?
35 Then the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit
1 This Greek word, parthenos (virgin), is used in Isa. 7:14 in the Septu-
agint, the Greek O.T. translation Jesus read and quoted.
1 Literal mranslation. Kk Vincent.
198 LUKE 1
will come upon you, and the power of the Most High
will overshadow you (as a shining cloud); and so the
holy Cpure, sinless) Thing which shall be born of you,
will be called the Son of God. [Ex. 40:34; Is. 7:14.]
36 And listen! Your relative Elizabeth in her old
age has also conceived a son, and this is now the sixth
month with her who was called barren;
37 For with God nothing is ever impossible, and no
word from God shall be without power or impossible of
fulfillment.
38 Then Mary said, Behold I am the handmaiden of
the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you
have said. And the angel left her.
39 And at that time Mary arose and went with
haste into the hill country, to a town of Judah,
40 And she went to the house of Zachariah and
entering it saluted Elizabeth.
41] And it occurred that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s
greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth
was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit,
42 And she cried out with a loud cry, then exclaimed,
Blessed — favored of God — above all other women are
you! And blessed — favored of God —is the Fruit of
your womb!
43 And how [have I deserved that this honor should]
be granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should
come to me?
44 For lo, the instant the sound of your salutation
reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed — happy, *to be envied — is she who
@Souter’s ‘‘Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament.”
LUKE Ὶ 199
believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things
that were spoken to her from the Lord.
46 And Mary said, My soul magnifies and extols the
Lord,
47 And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
48 For He has looked upon the low station and
humiliation of His handmaiden. For behold, from now
on all generations (of all ages) will call me blessed and
declare me happy and ‘to be envied!
49 For He Who is almighty has done great things
for me, and holy is His name — to be venerated in His
purity, majesty and glory!
50 And His mercy — His compassion and kindness
toward the miserable and afflicted — is on those who fear
Him with godly reverence, from generation to generation
and age to age.
51 He has shown strength and “made might with
His arm; He has scattered the proud and haughty in and
by the imagination and purpose and designs of their
hearts;
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
53 He has filled and satished the hungry with good
things, and the rich He has sent away empty-handed —
without a gilt.
54 He has laid hold on His servant Israel (to help
him, to espouse his cause), in remembrance of His
mercy,
55 Even as He promised to our forefathers, to Abra-
¢ Souter. ἃ Wycliffe.
200 LUKE 1
ham and to his descendants forever. [I Sam. 2:1-10;
Mic. 7:20; Gen. 17:7; 18:18; 22:17.]
56 And Mary remained with [Elizabeth] for about
three months, and [then] returned to her [own] home.
57 Now the time that Elizabeth should be delivered
came, and she gave birth to a son.
58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the
Lord had shown great mercy on her, and they rejoiced
with her.
59 And it occurred that on the eighth day when they
came to circumcise the child, they were intending to
call him Zachariah after his father; [Lev. 12:3; Gen.
17:12.]
60 But his mother answered, Not so, but he shall
be called John.
61 And they said to her, None of your relatives is
called by that name.
62 And they inquired with signs of his father what
he wanted to have him called.
63 Then Zachariah asked for a writing tablet and
wrote, His name is John. And they were all astonished.
64 And at once his mouth was opened and his
tongue [loosed], and he began to speak, blessing and
praising and thanking God.
65 And awe and reverential fear came on all their
neighbors. And all these things were discussed through-
out the hill country of Judea;
66 And all who heard them laid them up in their
hearts, saying, Whatever will this little boy be then?
LUKE 1 201
For the hand of the Lord was [350 evidently] with him
— protecting and aiding him.
67 Now Zachariah his father was filled with and
controlled by the Holy Spirit, and prophesied saying,
68 Blessed — praised and extolled and thanked — be
the Lord God of Israel, because He has come and brought
deliverance and redemption to His people!
69 And He has raised up a Horn of salvation, [that
is, a mighty and valiant Helper, the Author of salvation, ]
for us in the house of David His servant.
70 This is as He promised by the mouth of His holy
prophets from the most ancient times Cin the memory
of man),
71 ‘That we should have deliverance and be saved
from our enemies, and from the hand of all who detest
and pursue us with hatred;
72 To make true and show the mercy and compas-
sion and kindness [promised] to our forefathers, and to
remember and carry out His Holy covenant [to bless,
which is tthe more sacred because made by God Him-
self].
73 That covenant He sealed Ly oath to our fore-
father Abraham,
74 To grant us that we, being delivered from the
hand of our foes might serve Him fearlessly,
75 In holiness (divine consecration) and righteous-
ness (that is, in accordance with the everlasting princi-
ples of right) within His presence all the days of our life.
76 And you, little one, shall be called prophet of
7 Some translators, quoted in Barnes' ‘‘Notes on Luke and John.”
Thayer.
202 LUKE 2
the Most High; for you shall go before the face of the
Lord to make ready His ways, [Is. 40:3; Mal. 4:5.]
77 To bring and give the knowledge of salvation to
His people in the forgiveness and remission of their sins.
78 Because of and through the heart of tender mercy
and loving kindness of our God, a Light from on high
will dawn upon us and visit [us], [Mal. 4:2.]
79 To shine upon and give light to those who sit in
darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide
our feet in a straight line into [the] way of peace.
[Is. 9:2.]
80 And the little boy grew and became strong in
spirit, and he was in the deserts Cwildernesses) until the
day of his appearing to Israel [the commencement of
his public ministry].
CHAPTER 2
N those days it occurred that a decree went out from
Caesar Augustus that the whole "Roman Empire
should be registered.
2 This was the first enrollment and it was made
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all the people were going to be registered, each
to his own city or town.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the
town of Nazareth to Judea, to the town of David which
is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and
family of David,
5 To be enrolled with Mary, his espoused (*married)
wife, who was about to become a mother.
“Berry's ‘‘Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.”
bVincent. Compare Matthew 1:20, 24, 25. Also Matthew 1:18, 19.
LUKE 2 203
6 And while they were there, the time came for her
delivery.
7 And she gave birth to her Son, her first-born, and
she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in
a manger, because there was no room or place for them
in the inn.
8 And in that vicinity there were shepherds living
Cout under the open sky) in the field, watching Cin
shifts) over their flock by night.
9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them,
and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about
them, and they were terribly frightened.
10 But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for
behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will
come to all the people.
11 For to you is born this day in the town of David
a Savior, Who is Christ, the Messiah, the Lord! [Mic.
O22]
12 And this will be a sign for you [by which you
will recognize Him]: you will find after searching, a
Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a man-
ger. [1 Sam. 2:34; II Kin. 19:29; Is. 7:14.]
13. Then suddenly there appeared with the angel an
army of the troops of heaven — ‘a heavenly knighthood
— praising God and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on
earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased —
‘men of good will, of His favor.
15 When the angels went away from them into
heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go
bThayer. Wycliffe.
204 LUKE 2
over to Bethlehem and see this thing (4saying) that has
come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.
16 So they went with haste, and (*by searching)
found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger.
17 And when they saw it, they made known what
had been told them concerning this Child;
18 And all who heard it were astounded and mar-
velled at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary was keeping ‘within herself all these
things C4sayings), weighing and pondering them in her
heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and prais-
ing God for all things they had heard and seen, just as
it had been told them.
21 And at the end of eight days, when [the Baby]
was to be circumcised, He was called Jesus, the name
given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the time for their purification [the
mother’s purification and the Baby’s dedication] came
according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to
Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, [Lev. 12:1-4;
Num. 8:17.]
23 As it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every
[first-born] male that opens the womb shall be set apart
and dedicated and called holy to the Lord. [Ex. 13:1,
212)
24 And [they came also] to offer a sacrifice according
to what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtle-
doves or two young pigeons. [Lev. 12:2-8.]
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name
bThayer. 4 Vincent.
LUKE 2 205
was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout —
cautiously and carefully observing the divine Law — and
looking for the Consolation of Israel.
26 And the Holy Spirit was upon him and it had
been divinely revealed (communicated) to him by the
Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had
seen the Lord’s Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One.
27 And prompted by the (Holy) Spirit he came into
the temple ‘enclosure; and when the parents brought
in the little child Jesus, to do for Him what was custom-
ary according to the Law.
28 [Simeon] took Him up in his arms and praised
and thanked God and said,
29 And now, Lord, You are releasing Your servant
to depart Cleave this world) in peace, according to Your
word,
30 For with my [own] eyes I have seen Your Salva-
tion [[5. 52:10.]
31 Which You have ordained and prepared before
Cin the presence of) all peoples,
32 A Light for trevelation to the Gentiles — to disclose
what was before unknown — and [to bring] praise and
honor and glory to Your people Israel. [Is. 42:6; 49:6.]
33 And His [legal] father and [His] mother were
marvelling at what was said about Him;
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His
mother, Behold, this Child is appointed and destined
for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign
that is spoken against, [Is. 8:14, 15.]
35 And a sword will pierce through your own soul
® Trench. f Vincent.
206 LUKE 2
also, that the secret thoughts and purposes of many hearts
may be brought out and disclosed.
36 And there was also a prophetess, Anna, the
daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She was very
old, having lived with her husband seven years from her
maidenhood, [Josh. 19:24.]
37 And as a widow even for eighty-four years. She
did not go out from the temple ‘enclosure, but was wor-
shiping night and day with fasting and prayer.
38 And she too came up that same hour and she
returned thanks to God, and talked of [Jesus] to all who
were looking for the redemption (deliverance) of Jeru-
salem.
39 And when they had done everything according
to the Law of the Lord, they went back into Galilee to
their own town, Nazareth.
40 And the Child grew and became strong in sypirit,
filled with wisdom, and the grace (favor and spiritual
blessing) of God was upon Him. [Judg. 13:24;
I Sam, 2:26.]
41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year
to the Passover feast. [Deut. 16:1-8; Ex. 23:15.]
42 And when He was twelve years [old], they went
up as was their custom.
43 And when the feast was ended, as they were
returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem.
Now His parents did not know this,
44 But supposing Him to be in the caravan they
travelled on a day’s journey, and [then] they sought Him
ΖΦ Trench.
LUKE 2 207
Cdiligently, looking up and down for Him) among their
kinsfolk and acquaintances.
45 And when they failed to find Him, they went
back to Jerusalem, looking for Him Cup and down) all
the way.
46 After three days they found Him; [came upon
Him] in the ‘Ccourt of the) temple, sitting among the
teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47 And all who heard Him were astonished and over-
whelmed with bewildered wonder at His intelligence and
understanding and His replies.
48 And when they [Joseph and Mary] saw Him
they were amazed, and His mother said to Him, Child,
why have You treated us like this? Here Your father and
I have been anxiously looking for You — distressed and
tormented.
49 And He said to them, How is it that you had to
look for Me? Did you not see and know that it is neces-
sary Cas a duty) for Me "to be in My Father’s house, and
[occupied] about My Father’s business?
50 But they did not comprehend what He was saying
to them.
51 And He went down with them and came to
Nazareth, and was Chabitually) obedient to them; and
his mother kept and closely and persistently guarded all
these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom Cin broad and
full understanding), and in stature and years, and in
favor with God and man.
fTrench. ‘Literally, ‘in the things of My Father.” bAlternate reading.
208 LUKE 3
CHAPTER 3
N the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign, when
Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod
was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch
of the region of Jturaea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias
tetrarch of Abilene,
2 In the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the
Word of God [concerning the attainment through Christ
of salvation in the kingdom of God], came to John the
son of Zachariah in the wilderness (desert).
3 And he went into all the country round about
the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance (that is,
‘of hearty amending of their ways with abhorrence for
past wrongdoing,) unto the forgiveness of sin.
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah
the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness
(shouting in the desert): Prepare the way of the Lord;
make His beaten paths straight.
5 Every valley and ravine shall be filled up, and
every mountain and hill shall be leveled down, and the
crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough
roads shall be made smooth;
6 And all mankind shall see Cbehold and “understand
[and at last acknowledge]) the salvation of God — the de-
liverance from eternal death ‘decreed by God. [Is.
40:3-5.]
7 So he said to the crowds that came out to be bap-
tized by him, You offspring of vipers! Who ‘secretly
warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
¢Thayer. 4 Gray and Adams Bible Commentary.
t Literal meaning.
LUKE 3 209
8 Bear fruits that are deserving and consistent with
‘your repentance — [that is,] ‘conduct worthy of a heart
changed and abhorring sin. And do not begin to say to
yourselves, We have Abraham as our father; for J tell you
God is able from these stones to raise up descendants for
Abraham.
9 Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees,
so that every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut
down and cast into the fire.
10 And the multitudes asked him, Then what shall
we do?
11 And he replied to them, He who has two tunics
Cundergarments), let him share with him who has none;
and he who has food, let him do the same way.
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they
said to him, Teacher, what shall we do?
13 And he said to them, Exact and collect no more
than the fxed amount appointed you.
14 Those serving as soldiers also asked him, And we,
what shall we do? And he replied to them, Never de-
mand or enforce ‘by terrifying people or by accusing
wrongfully, and always be satished with your rations
(supplies) and with your allowance (wages).
15 As the people were in suspense and waiting
expectantly, and everybody reasoned and questioned in
their hearts concerning John whether he perhaps might
be the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One,
16 John answered them all by saying, I baptize you
with water, but He Who is mightier than [ is com-
ing, the strap of Whose sandals I am not fit to unfasten;
“Alternate reading (ASV). Thayer. fVincent.
210 LUKE 3
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fre.
17 His winnowing shovel (fork) is in His hand, to
thoroughly clear and cleanse His [threshing] floor, and to
gather the wheat and store it in His granary, but the
chaff He will burn with fire that cannot be extinguished.
18 So, with many other (various) appeals and ad-
monitions, he preached the good news (the Gospel) to
the people.
19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been Crepeated-
ly) told his fault and reproved with rebuke "producing
conviction, by John for [having] Herodias his brother’s
wife, and for all the wicked things that Herod had done,
20 Added this to them all, that he shut up John in
prison.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and
when Jesus also had been baptized, and [while He was
still] praying, the (visible) heaven was opened,
22 And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in
bodily form, like a dove, and a voice came from heaven,
saying, You are My Son, the Beloved! In You I am well
pleased and find delight! [Ps. 2:7; Is. 42:1.]
23 Jesus Himself, when He began [His ministry],
was about thirty years of age, being the Son, as was sup-
posed, of Joseph, the son of Heli,
24 ‘The son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of
Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
25 The son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son
of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
b Vincent,
LUKE 3 21)
26 The son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son
of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
27 The son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of
Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28 The son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of
Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
29 The son of Jesus, the son of Eliezer, the son of
Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30 The son of Symeon, the son of Judas, the son
of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
31 The son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of
Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32 The son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of
Boaz, the son of Salmon (Sala), the son of Nahshon,
33 The son of Aminadab, (the son of Admin
[Aram]), the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of
Perez, the son of Judah,
34 The son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of
Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35 The son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of
Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36 The son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son
of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37 The son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the
son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
38 The son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of
Adam, the son of God. [Gen. 5:3-32; 11:10-26, Ruth
4:18-22; I Chron. 1:1-4, 24-28; 2:1-15.]
212 LUKE 4
CHAPTER 4
HEN Jesus, full of and controlled by the Holy
Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led in
Cby) the CHoly) Spirit
2 For (during) forty days in the wilderness Cdesert),
where He was tempted C‘tried, tested exceedingly) by
the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and
when they were completed, He was hungry. [Deut.
9:9; I Kin. 19:8.]
3 Then the devil said to Him, If you are the Son
of God, order this stone to turn into a loaf [of bread].
4 And Jesus replied to him, It is written, Man shall
not live and be sustained by (on) bread alone but by
every word and expression of God. [Deut. 8:3.]
5 Then the devil took Him up to a high mountain,
and showed Him all the kingdoms of the habitable world
in a moment of time — ‘in the twinkling of an eye;
6 And he said to Him, To You I will give all this
power and authority and their glory, (that is, all their
magnificence, excellence, pre-eminence, dignity and
grace,) for it has been turned over to me, and I give it
to whom I will;
7 Therefore if You will do homage to and worship
me (just once), it shall all be Yours.
8 And Jesus replied to Him, Get behind Me, Satan!
It is written, You shall do homage to and worship the
Lord your God; and Him only shall you serve. [Deut.
6:13; 10:20. ]
9 Then he took Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on
bWilliams’ New Testament, “‘expressed by the aorist.”
*Youneg’s Analytical Concordance. °Tyndale.
LUKE 4 213
‘a gable of the temple, and said to Him, If You are the
Son of God, cast Yourself down from here;
10 For it is written, He will give His angels charge
of you, to guard and watch over you closely and care-
fully;
11 And on their hands they will bear you up, lest
you strike your foot against a stone. [Ps. 91:11, 12.]
12 And Jesus replied to him, [The Scripture] says,
you shall not tempt Ctry, “test exceedingly) the Lord
your God. [Deut. 6:16.]
13 And when the devil had ended every [the com-
plete cycle of] temptation, he left Him — temporarily,
that is, *stood off from Him until another more oppor-
tune and favorable time.
14 Then Jesus went back full of and under the
power of the CHoly) Spirit into Galilee, and the fame of
Him spread through the whole region round about.
15 And He Himself conducted (‘a course) of teach-
ing in their synagogues, being "recognized and honored
and praised by all.
16 So He came to Nazareth, [πὲ Nazareth] where
He had been brought up; and He entered the synagogue,
as was His custom on the Sabbath day. And He stood
up to read.
17 And there was handed to Him [the roll of] the
book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened Cunrelled) the
book, and found the place where it was written, []Ϊ5.
61:1, 2.]
‘Moulton and Milligan’s ‘‘Vocabulary of the Greek Testament.”
4Young’s Analytical Concordance.
*Wuest’s ‘Golden Nuggets from the Greek New Testament.”
fVincent: in imperfect tense.
8Cremer’s “‘Biblico-Theological Lexicon of New Testament Greek.”
214 LUKE 4
18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He
has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to
preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has
sent Me to announce release to the captives, and recovery
of sight to the blind; to send forth delivered those who
are oppressed — who are downtrodden, bnuised, crushed
and broken down by calamity;
19 ‘To proclaim the accepted and acceptable day of
the Lord — the day ‘when salvation and the free favors of
God profusely abound. [Is. 61:1, 2.]
20 ‘Then He rolled up the book, and gave it back to
the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the
synagogue were gazing (attentively) at Him.
21 And He began to speak to them: Today this
Scripture has been fulfilled 4while you are present and
hearing.
22 And all spoke well of Him, and marveled at the
words of grace that came forth from His mouth; and
they said, Is not this Joseph’s Son?
23 So He said to them, You will doubtless quote to
Me this proverb, Physician, heal Yourself! What we have
learned by hearsay that You did in Capernaum, do here
also in Your [own] town.
24 ‘Then He said, Solemnly I say to you, no prophet
is acceptable and welcome in his [own] town (country).
25 But in truth I tell you, there were many widows
in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were
closed up for three years and six months, so that there
came a great famine over all the land;
@Thayer.
*Capilalized because of what He is, not what the speakers may have
ought He was.
LUKE 4 215
26 And yet Elijah was not sent to a single one of
them, but only to Zarephath in the country of Sidon, to
a woman who was a widow. [I Kin. 17:1, 8-16; 18:1.]
27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time
of Elisha the prophet, and yet not one of them was
cleansed (by being healed), but only Naaman the Syrian.
[1] Kin. 5:1-14.]
28 When they heard these things, all the people in
the synagogue were filled with rage.
29 And rising up they pushed and drove Him out
of the town, and laying hold of Him they led Him to the
(projecting) upper part of the hill on which their town
was built, that they might hurl Him headlong down
[over the cliff].
30 But passing through their midst, He went on
His way.
31 And He descended to Capernaum, a town of
Galilee, and there He continued to teach the people on
the Sabbath days.
32 And they were amazed at His teaching, for His
word was with authority and ability and weight and
power.
33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who
was possessed by the foul spirit of a demon; and he cried
out with a loud (deep, terrible) cry,
34 Ah, ‘let us alone! What have You to do with us?
— What have ‘we in common — Jesus of Nazareth? Have
You come to destroy us? I know Who You are, the Holy
One of God!
35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be silent Cmuz-
*Alternate reading. fAfter Wycliffe’s translation.
216 LUKE 4
zled, gagged), and come out of him! And when the
demon had thrown the man down in their midst, he
came out of him, without injuring him in any £possible
way.
36 And they were all amazed and said to one an-
other, What kind of talk is this? For with authority and
power He commands the foul spirits, and they come out!
37 And a rumor about Him spread into every place
in the surrounding country.
38 ‘Then He arose and left the synagogue, and went
into Simon’s (Peter’s)) house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law
was suffering in the grip of a burning fever, and they
pleaded with Him for her.
39 And standing over her, He rebuked the fever,
and it left her; and immediately she got up and began
waiting on them.
40 Now at the setting of the sun [indicating the end
of the Sabbath], all those who had [any that were] sick
with various diseases brought them to Him, and He laid
His hands upon every one of them and cured them.
41 And demons even came out of many people,
screaming and crying out, You are the Son of God! But
He rebuked them, and would not permit them to speak,
because they knew that He was the Christ, the Messiah.
42 And when daybreak came He left [Peter’s house]
and went into an isolated (desert) place. And the people
looked for Him until they came up to Him, and tried to
prevent Him from leaving them.
43 But He said to them, I must preach the good
SLiteral meaning.
LUKE 5 217
news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God to the other
cities and towns also; for I was sent for this [purpose].
44 And He continued to preach in the synagogues of
Galilee.
CHAPTER 5
OW it occurred that while the people pressed
upon Jesus to hear the message of God, He was
standing by the lake of Gennesaret [sea of Galilee].
2 And He saw two boats drawn up by the lake, but
the fishermen had gone down from them and were wash-
ing their nets.
3 And getting into one of the boats, [the one] that
belonged to Simon (Peter), He requested him to draw
away a little from the shore. Then He sat down and
continued to teach the crowd (of people) from the boat.
4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon
(Peter), Put out into the deep [water], and lower your
nets for a haul.
5 And Simon (Peter) answered, Master, we toiled
all night C*exhaustingly) and caught nothing [in our
nets]. But *on the ground of Your word, 1 will lower
the nets [again].
6 And when they had done this, they caught a great
number of fish; and as their nets were (*at the point of)
breaking,
7 They signaled to their partners in the other boats
to come and take hold with them. And they came and
filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
8 But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at
“Vincent. bTrench,
218 LUKE 5
Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful
man, O Lord.
9 For he was gripped with bewildering amazement —
allied to terror — and all that were with him, at the haul
of fish which they had made;
10 And so also were James and John, sons of Zebe-
dee, who were partners with Simon (Peter). And Jesus
said to Simon, Have no fear; from now on you will be
catching men!
11 And after they had run their boats on shore, they
left everything and joined Him as His disciples and sided
with His party and accompanied Him.
12 While He was in one of the towns, there came
a man full of (covered with) leprosy; and when he saw
Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, Lord,
if You will, You are able to cure me and make me clean.
13. And [Jesus] reached out His hand and touched
him, saying, I will; be cleansed! And immediately the
leprosy left him.
14 And [Jesus] charged him to tell no one (*that he
might chance to meet), PUntil, He said, you go and show
yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your
purification, as Moses commanded, for a testimony and
proof to the people, that they may have evidence [of
your healing]. [Lev. 13:49, 14:2-32.]
15 But so much the more the news spread abroad
concerning Him and great crowds kept coming together
to hear and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.
16 But He Himself withdrew [in retirement] to the
wilderness (desert) and prayed.
*Vincent. bTrench.
LUKE 5 219
17 One of those days, as He was teaching, there
were Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting by, who
had come from every village and town of Galilee and
Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord
was with Him (‘present) to heal (them).
18 And behold, some men were bringing on a
stretcher a man who was paralyzed, and they tried to
carry him in and lay him before [Jesus].
19 But finding no way to bring him in, because of
the crowd, they went up on the roof, and lowered him
with his stretcher down through the tiles into the midst
in front of Jesus.
20 And when He saw [their confidence in Him,
springing from] their faith, He said, Man, your sins are
forgiven you!
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason
and question and argue, saying, Who is this [Man] Who
speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God
alone?
22 But Jesus knowing their thoughts and question-
ings, answered them, Why do you question in your
hearts?
23 Which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven you,
or to say, Arise and walk (about)?
24 But that you may know that the Son of man has
the (4power of) authority and of right on earth to forgive
sins, He said to the paralyzed man, I say to you, arise,
pick up your litter (little bed), and go to your own house!
25 And instantly the man stood up before them, and
¢Some ancient authorities so read. 4Thayer.
220 LUKE 5
picked up what he had been lying on, and went away
to his house, *recognizing and praising and thanking God.
26 And overwhelming astonishment and_ ecstacy
seized them all, and they ‘recognized and praised and
thanked God, and they were filled with and controlled
by reverential fear, and kept saying, We have seen won-
derful and strange and incredible and unthinkable things
today!
27 And after this Jesus went out and looked atten-
tively at a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax
office; and He said to him, Join Me as a disciple and side
with My party and accompany Me.
28 And he forsook everything, and got up [and] fol-
lowed Him — becoming His disciple and siding with His
party.
29 And Levi [Matthew] made a great banquet for
Him in his own house, and there was a large company
of tax collectors and others who were reclining [at the
table] with them.
30 Now the Pharisees and their scribes were grum-
bling against Jesus’ disciples, saying, Why are you eating
and drinking with tax collectors and pre-eminently sinful
people?
31 And Jesus replied to them, It is not those who are
healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.
32 I have not come to arouse and invite and call the
righteous, but ‘the erring ones (‘those not free from sin)
to repentance — [that is], “to change their minds for the
better and heartily to amend their ways, with abhorrence
of their past sins.
“Thayer, *Cremer. fYoung.
LUKE 6 221
33 Then they said to Him, The disciples of John
practise fasting often and offer up prayers of [special]
petition, and so do [the disciples] of the Pharisees also,
but Yours eat and drink.
34 And Jesus said to them, Can you make the wed-
ding guests fast as long as the bridegroom is with them?
35 But the days will come when the bridegroom is
taken from them, and then they will fast in those days.
36 He told them a “proverb also: No one puts a
patch from a new garment on an old garment; if he does,
he will both tear the new one, and the patch from the
new [one] will not match the old [garment].
37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins;
if he does, the fresh wine will burst the skins and it will
be spilled, and the skins will be ruined (destroyed).
38 But new wine must be put in fresh wineskins;
39 And no one after drinking old wine immediately
desires new wine, for he says, The old is good or better.
CHAPTER 6
NE Sabbath while Jesus was passing through the
fields of standing grain, it occurred that His dis-
ciples picked sume of the spikes and ate [of the grain],
rubbing it out in their hands. [Decut. 23:25.]
2 But some of the Pharisees asked them, Why are
you doing what is not permitted to be done on the Sab-
bath days? [Ex. 20:10; 23:12; Deut. 5:14.]
3 And Jesus replied to them saying, Have you never
so much as read what David did when he was hungry,
he and those who were with him? [I Sam. 21:1-6.]
€Abbott-Smith’s ‘‘“Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.”
hMany ancient authorities read “better.
222 LUKE 6
4 How he went into the house of God, and took and
ate the [sacred] loaves of the showbread, which it is not
permitted for any except only the priests to eat, and also
gave to those [who were] with him? [Lev. 24:9.]
5 And He said to them, The Son of man is Lord
even over the Sabbath.
6 And it occurred on another Sabbath that when
He went into the synagogue and taught, a man was
present whose right hand was withered.
7 And the scribes and the Pharisees kept watching
Jesus to see whether He would [actually] heal on the
Sabbath, in order that they might get [some ground for]
accusation against Him.
8 But He was aware all along of their thoughts, and
He said to the man with the withered hand, Come and
stand here in the midst. And he arose and stood there.
9 Then Jesus said to them, I ask you, is it lawful
and right on the Sabbath to do good (*so that someone
derives advantage from it), or to do evil? to save a life
Cand ’make a soul safe) or to destroy it?
10 Then He glanced around at them all, and said
to the man, Stretch out your hand! And he did so, and
his hand was fully restored like the other one.
11 But they were filled with lack of understanding
and. senseless rage, and discussed (consulted) with one
another what they might do to Jesus.
12 Now in those days it occurred that He went up
into a mountain to pray, and spent the [whole] night in
prayer to God.
13 And when it was day, He summoned His disci-
“Cremer. Wycliffe.
LUKE 6 223
ples, and selected from them twelve, whom He named
apostles (special messengers).
14 They were Simon, whom He named Peter, and
his brother Andrew, and James and John, and Philip
and Bartholomew,
15 And Matthew and Thomas, and James the son
of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,
16 And Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot,
who became a traitor—a treacherous, basely faithless
person.
17 And Jesus came down with them and took His
stand on a level spot, with a great crowd of His disciples
and a vast throng of people from all over Judea and
Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came
to listen to Him and to be cured of their diseases;
18 Even those who were disturbed and troubled with
unclean spirits, and they were being healed [also].
19 And all the multitude were seeking to touch Him,
for healing power was all the while going forth trom
Him and cured them all [that is, "saving them from
severe illnesses or calamities].
20 And solemnly lifting up His eyes on His disciples
Fle said: Blessed — happy ["with life-joy and satisfaction
in God’s favor and salvation, apart from your outward
condition] and ‘to be envied — are you poor and “lowly
and afflicted (destitute of wealth, influence, position and
honors), for the kingdom of God is yours!
21 Blessed — happy [>with life-joy and satisfaction in
God’s favor and salvation, apart from your outward con-
dition] and ‘to be envied — are you that hunger and seek
with eager desire now, for you shall be filled and com-
Vincent. bCremer, cSouter. dThayer.
224 LUKE 6
pletely satisfied! Blessed —happy [with life-joy and
satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, apart from your
outward condition] and ‘to be envied —are you who
weep and sob now, for you shal! laugh!
22 Blessed — happy [with life-joy and satisfaction in
God’s favor and salvation, apart from your outward con-
dition] and ‘to be envied — are you when people despise
Chate) you, and when they exclude and excommunicate
you (as disreputable), and revile and denounce you, and
defame and cast out and spurn your name as evil
Cwicked) on account of the Son of man.
23 Rejoice and be glad at such a time, and exult and
leap for joy, for behold, your reward is rich and great
and strong and intense and abundant in heaven; for
even so their forefathers treated the prophets.
24 But woe to (alas for) you rich — “abounding in
material resources — for you already are receiving your
consolation [the solace and sense of strengthening and
cheer that come from prosperity]; and have taken and
enjoyed your comfort in full [having nothing left to be
awarded you].
25 Woe to (alas for.) you who are full now — com-
pletely filled, luxuriously gorged and satiated; for you
shall hunger and suffer want! Woe to (Calas for) you that
laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep and wail!
26 Woe to (alas for.) you when everyone speaks fairly
and handsomely of you and praises you, for even so their
forefathers did to the false prophets.
27 ButI say to you who are listening now to Me C®in
order to heed, make it a practice to) love your enemies;
bCremer. eSouter. 4Thayer. 3Vincent.
LUKE 6 225
treat well Cdo good to, act nobly toward) those who
detest you and pursue you with hatred.
28 Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness
of those who curse you; implore God’s blessing (favor)
upon those who abuse you — who revile, reproach, dis-
parage and highhandedly misuse you.
29 To the one who strikes you on the “jaw or cheek,
offer the other “jaw or cheek also; and from him who
takes away your outer garment, do not withhold your
undergarment as well.
30 Give away to every one who begs of you [who
is “in want of necessities]; and of him who takes away
from you your goods, do not demand or require them
back again.
31 And as you would like and desire that men would
do to you, do exactly so to them.
32 If you [merely] love those who love you, what
“quality of credit and thanks is that to you? For even
‘the [very] sinners love their lovers — those who love
them.
33 And if you are kind and good and do favors to
and benefit those who are kind and good and do Favors
to and benefit you, what ®quality of credit and thanks is
that to your For even “the pre-eminently sinful do the
same.
34 And if you lend money “at interest to those from
whom you hope to receive, what ®quality of credit and
thanks is that to you? Even notorious sinners lend
money “at interest to sinners, so as to recover as much
again.
*Vincent. 4Thayer. °Tyndale.
226 LUKE 6
35 But love your enemies, and be kind and do good
— doing favors ὕςο that someone derives benefht from
them; and lend expecting and hoping for nothing in re-
turn, but *considering nothing as lost and ‘despairing of
no one; and then your recompense (your reward) will be
great — rich, strong, intense and abundant — and you will
be sons of the Most High; for He is kind and charitable
and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and wicked.
36 So be merciful — sympathetic, tender, responsive
and compassionate — even as your Father is [all these].
37 Judge not—neither pronouncing judgment nor
subjecting to censure — and you will not be judged; do
not condemn and pronounce guilty, and you will not be
condemned and pronounced guilty; acquit and forgive
and ‘release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you
will be acquitted and forgiven and ‘released.
38 Give, and [gifts] will be given you, good measure,
pressed down, shaken together and running over will
they pour “into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of
your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you
deal out — that is, with the measure you use when you
confer benefits on others — it will be measured back to you.
39 He further told them ¢a proverb: Can a blind
[man] guide and direct a blind [man]? Will they not
both stumble into a ditch or a thole in the ground?
40 A pupil is not superior to his teacher, but every
one [when he is] completely trained — readjusted, re-
stored, set to rights and perfected — will be like his
teacher.
®Vincent. _ >Cremer. cSome ancient authorities so read.
adLiteral meaning. ®Abbott-Smith. fSouter.
LUKE 6 227
41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s
eye, but do not notice or consider the beam [of timber]
that is in your own eye?
42 Or how can you say to your brother, Brother,
allow me to take out the speck that is in your eye, when
you yourself do not see the beam that is in your own
eve? You actor — pretender, hypocrite! First take the beam
out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to
take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
43 For there is no good Chealthy) tree that bears de-
cayed Cworthless, stale) fruit; nor on the other hand does
a decayed (worthless, sickly) tree bear good fruit;
44 For each tree is known and identified by its own
fruit; for figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor
is a cluster of grapes picked from a bramblebush.
45 The upright Chonorable, intrinsically good) man
out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces
what is upright Chonorable and intrinsically good); and
the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that
which is depraved Cwicked and intrinsically evil}, for out
of the abundance Coverflow,) of the heart his mouth
speaks.
46 Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not
[practise] what I tell you?
47 For every one who comes to Me and listens to My
words Cin order to heed their teaching) and does them,
I will show you what he is like:
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug and
went down deep, and laid a foundation upon the rock;
and when a flood arose, the torrent broke against that
228 LUKE 7
house and could not shake or move it, because it had
been Ssecurely built — founded on a rock.
49 But he who merely hears, and does not practise
doing My words, is like a man who built a house on
the ground, without a foundation; against which the
torrent burst and immediately it collapsed and fell, and
the breaking and ruin of that house was great.
CHAPTER 7
FTER Jesus had finished all that He had to say
in the hearing of the people [on the mountain],
He entered Capernaum.
2 Nowa centurion had a bond servant who was held
in honor and highly valued by him, who was sick and
at the point of death.
3 And when the centurion heard of Jesus, he sent
some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come
and make his bond servant well.
4 And when they reached Jesus, they begged Him
earnestly, saying, He is worthy that You should do this
for him,
5 For he loves our nation, and he built us our syna-
gogue [at his own expense].
6 And Jesus went with them. But when He was not
far from the house, the centurion sent [some] friends to
Him, saying, Lord, do not trouble [Yourself], for I am
not sufficiently worthy to have You come under my roof;
7 Neither did I consider myself worthy to come to
You. But [just] speak a word, and my servant boy will
be healed.
eAlternate reading. bLiteral reading, ‘‘sufficient.”
LUKE 7 229
8 For I also am a man daily subject to authority,
with soldiers under me; and I say to one, Go, and he
goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my
bond servant, Do this, and he does it.
9 Now when Jesus heard this He marveled at him,
and He turned and said to the crowd that followed Him,
I tell you, not even in [all] Israel have I found such
great faith [as this].
10 And when the messengers who had been sent
returned to the house, they found the bond servant who
had been ill quite well again.
11 ‘Soon afterward Jesus went to a town called Nain,
and His disciples and a great throng accompanied Him.
12 [Just] as He drew near the gate of the town, be-
hold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only
son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large
gathering from the town was accompanying her.
13 And when the Lord saw her, He haa compassion
on her and said to her, Do not weep.
14. And He went forward and touched the funeral
couch, and the pallbearers stood still. And He said,
Young man, I say to you, arise [/from death]!
15 And the man [who was] dcad sat up, and began
to speak. And [Jesus] gave him [back] to his mother.
16 Profound and reverent fear seized them all; and
they began *to recognize God and praise and give thanks,
saying, A great prophet has appeared among us! And
God has visited His people Cin order to help and care
for and provide for them)!
17 And this report concerning [Jesus] spread through
{ Many ancient authorities read ‘‘the next day.” J Cremer. k Thayer.
230 LUKE 7
the whole of Judea and all the country round about.
(I Kin. 17:17-24; IT Kin. 4:32-37.]
18 And John’s disciples brought him [now in prison]
word of all these things.
19 And John summoned to him a certain two of his
disciples and sent them to the Lord saying, Are You He
Who is to come, or shall we [continue to] look for
another?
20 So the men came to Jesus and said, John the Bap-
tist sent us to You to ask, Are You the One Who is to
come, or shall we [continue to] look for another?
21 In that very hour Jesus was healing many of sick-
nesses and distressing bodily plagues and evil spirits,
and to many who were blind He gave (‘a free, gracious,
joy-giving gift of) sight.
22 So He replied to them, Go and tell John what
you have seen and heard: the blind are receiving their
sight; the lame are walking; the lepers are cleansed; the
deaf are hearing; the dead are raised up, and the poor
have the good news (the Gospel.) preached to them. [15.
29:18, 19; 35:5, 6; 61:1.]
23 And blessed — happy [>with life-joy and satisfac-
tion in God’s Favor and salvation apart from outward con-
ditions] and “to be envied — is he who takes no offense
in Me and who is not hurt or resentful or annoyed or
repelled or made to stumble, [‘whatever may occur].
24 And the messengers of John having departed,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: What
did you go out into the desert to gaze on? A reed shaken
and swayed by the wind?
bCremer. ¢Vincent. 4Souter.
LUKE 7 231
25 Then what did you go out to see? A man dressed
up in soft garments? Behold, those who wear fine apparel
and live in luxury are in the courts or palaces of kings.
26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet —a
forth-teller? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.
27 ‘This is he concerning whom it is written, Behold,
I send My messenger before Your face, who shall make
ready Your way before You. [Mal. 3:1.]
28 1 tell you, among those born of women there is
not a greater than John; but che that is inferior [to the
other citizens} in the kingdom of God is greater [in
incomparable privilege] than he.
29 And all the people who heard Him, even the
tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God [in ¢call-
ing them to repentance, and in pronouncing future
wrath on the impenitent}, being baptized with the bap-
tism of John;
30 But the Pharisees and the lawyers [of the Mosaic
Law] annulled and rejected and brought to nothing God’s
purpose concerning themselves, by [refusing and] not
being baptized by [John}.
31 So to what shall I compare the men of this
generation, and what are they like?
32 They are like little children sitting in the market
place, calling to one another and saying, We piped
[playing wedding] to you, and you did not dance; we
sang dirges and wailed [playing funeral], and you did
not weep.
33 For John the Baptist has come neither eating
bread nor drinking wine, and you say, He has a demon.
*Thayer.
232 LUKE 7
34 The Son of man has come eating and drinking,
and you say, Behold, a Man Who is a glutton and a wine-
drinker, a friend of tax collectors and notorious sinners.
35 Yet wisdom is vindicated [‘shown to be true and
divine] by all her children [that is, *by their life, charac-
ter and deeds].
36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dine with
him, and He went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined
at table.
37 And behold, a woman of the town, who was £an
especially wicked sinner, when she learned that He was
reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an
alabaster flask of ointment (perfume).
38 And standing behind Him at His feet weeping,
she began to wet His feet with [her] tears, and she
wiped them with the hair of her head; and kissed His
feet affectionately, and anointed them with the ointment
(perfume).
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him
saw it, he said to himself, If this Man were a prophet,
He would surely know who and what sort of woman this
is who is touching Him, for she is a notorious sinner — a
social outcast, devoted to sin.
40 And Jesus replying said to him, Simon, I have
something to say to you. And he answered, Teacher,
say it.
41 A certain lender of money at interest had two
debtors; one owed him five hundred denarii, and the
other fifty.
42 When they had no means of paying, he freely
fBarnes’ ‘‘Notes on the New Testament.” Thayer.
LUKE 8 233
forgave them both. Now which of them will love him
more?
43 Simon answered, The one, I take it, for whom
he forgave and canceled more. And Jesus said to him,
You have decided correctly.
44 Then turning toward the woman, He said to
Simon, Do you see this woman? When I came into
your house, you gave Me no water for My feet, but she
has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with
her hair.
45 You gave Me no kiss, but she from the moment
I came in has not ceased (intermittently) to kiss My feet
tenderly and caressingly.
46 You did not anoint My head with ®[{cheap, or-
dinary] oil, but she has anointed My feet with "[costly,
rare] perfume.
47 ‘Therefore I tell you, her sins, many [as they are],
are forgiven her, because she has loved much; but he
who is forgiven little, loves little.
48 And He said to her, Your sins are forgiven!
49 Then those who were at table with Him began
to say among themselves, Who is this, Who even for-
gives sins?
50 But Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has
saved you; go Center) Sinto peace — 4in freedom from all
the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin.
CHAPTER 8
OON afterward [Jesus] went on through towns and
villages, preaching and bringing the good news
(the Gospel) of the kingdom of God. And the twelve
[apostles] were with Him,
®Vincent. bCremer.
234 LUKE 8
2 And also some women who had been cured of evil
spirits and diseases: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom
seven demons had been expelled;
3 And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household
manager, and Susanna, and many others, who minis-
tered to and provided for "Him and them out of their
property and personal belongings.
4 And when a very great throng was gathering to-
gether, and people from town after town kept coming
to Jesus, He said in a parable:
5 A sower went out to sow seed, and as he sowed,
some fell along the traveled path, and was trodden under
foot; and the birds of the air ate it up.
6 And some [seed] fell on the rock, and as soon as
it sprouted, it withered away, because it had no moisture.
7 And other [seed] fell in the midst of the thorns,
and the thorns grew up with it and choked it (off).
8 And some seed fell into good soil, and grew up
and yielded a crop a hundred times [as great]. As He
said these things, He called out, He who has ears to
hear, let him be listening and ‘consider and understand
by hearing!
9 And when His disciples asked Him the meaning
of this parable,
10 He said to them, To you it has been given to
Ccome progressively to.) know — that is, to recognize and
understand more strongly and clearly — the mysteries and
secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are
in parables, so that looking they may not see, and hear-
bSome ancient authorities read “‘“Him”’ instead of “them.” ‘Thayer.
LUKE 8 235
ing they may not comprehend. [Is. 6:9-10; Jer. 5:21;
Ezek. 12:2.]
11 Now the meaning of the parable is this: ‘The
seed is the Word of God.
12 Those along the traveled road are the people
who have heard; then the devil comes and carries away
the message out of their hearts, that they may not believe
[‘acknowledge Me as their Savior and devote themselves
to Me], and be saved [here and hereafter].
13. And those upon the rock [are the people] who,
when they hear [the Word], receive and welcome it with
joy; but these have no root; they believe for a while,
and in time of trial ad temptation fall away — withdraw
and stand aloof.
14 And as for what fell among the thorns, these
are [the people] who hear, but as they go on their way
they are choked and suffocated with the anxieties and
cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does
not ripen — come to maturity and perfection.
15 But as for that in the good soil, these are [the
people] who hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just —
Inoble, virtuous and worthy heart — and steadily bring
forth fruit with patience.
16 No one after he has lighted a lamp covers it with
a vessel, or puts it under a [dining table-]couch; but he
puts it on a [lamp]stand, that those who come in may
see the light.
17 For there is nothing hid that shall not be dis-
closed, nor anything secret that shall not be known and
come out into the open.
‘Thayer. 1Vincent.
236 LUKE 8
18 Be careful therefore how you listen, for to him
who has will more be given, and from him who does
not have, even what he thinks and guesses and ‘sup-
poses that he has will be taken away.
19 Then Jesus’ mother and His brothers came along
toward Him, but they could not get to Him for the
crowd.
20 And it was told Him, Your mother and Your
brothers are standing outside, desiring to have an inter-
view with You.
21 But He answered them, My mother and My
brothers are those who listen to the Word of God and
do it!
22 One of those days He and His disciples got into a
boat, and He said to them, Let us go across to the other
side of the lake. So they put off to sea.
23 But as they were sailing, He fell off to sleep.
And a ¢whirlwind revolving from below upwards swept
down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water,
and they were in great danger.
24 And the disciples came and woke Him, saying,
Master, Master, we are perishing! And He, being
thoroughly awakened, ‘censured and »blamed and re-
buked the wind and the raging waves; and they ceased,
and there came a calm.
25 And He said to them, Why are you so fearful?
Where is your faith — your trust, your confidence in Me,
[in My veracity and My integrity]? And they were
seized with alarm and profound and reverent dread,
Wycliffe. °Tyndale.
§Schmidt’s ‘“‘Synonymik der Griechischen Sprache.” (-Thayer).
eMoulton and Milligan.
LUKE 8 237
and they marveled, saying to one another, Who then
is this, that He commands even wind and sea, and
they obey Him?
26 Then they came to the country of the Gerasenes,
which is opposite Galilee.
27 Now when Jesus stepped out on land, there met
Him a certain man out of the town who had [was pos-
sessed by] demons. For a long time he had worn no
clothes, and he lived not in a house but in the tombs.
28 And when he saw Jesus, he raised a deep Cter-
tible) cry (from the depths of his throat), and fell down
before Him [in terror], and shouted loudly, What have
You [to do] with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?
— What have we in common? I beg You, do not torment
me!
29 For Jesus was already commanding the unclean
spirit to come out of the man. For many times it
snatched and held him; he was kept under guard and
bound with chains and fetters, but he would break the
bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilderness
(desert).
30 Jesus then asked him, What is your name? And
he answered, Legion; for many demons had entered him.
31 And they begged [Jesus] not to command them to
depart into the bottomless pit Cabyss).
32 Now a great herd of swine was there feeding on
the hillside, and [the demons] begged Him to give them
leave to enter these. And He allowed them [to do 50].
33 Then the demons came out of the man and
entered into the swine, and the herd rushed down the
steep cliff into the lake and were drowned.
238 LUKE 8
34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened,
they ran away, and told it in the town and in the
country.
35 And [people] went out to see what had occurred,
and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom
the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed
and in his right Gsound) mind, and they were seized with
alarm and fear.
36 And those also who had seen it, told them how
he who had been possessed with demons was restored
Cto health).
37 Then all the people of the country surrounding
the Gerasenes district asked [Jesus] to depart from them,
for they were possessed and suffering with dread and
terror; so He entered a boat and returned [to the west
side of the sea of Galilee}.
38 But the man from whom the demons had gone
kept begging and °praying that he might accompany Him
and be with Him, but [Jesus] sent him away, saying,
39 Return to your home, and recount [the story]
throughout of how many and great things God has done
for you. And [the man] departed, proclaiming through-
out the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
40 Now when Jesus came back [to Galilee}, the
crowd received and welcomed Him gladly, for they were
all waiting and looking for Him.
41 And there came a man named Jairus, who had
(ἔοι a “long time) been a director of the synagogue;
and falling at the feet of Jesus he begged Him to come
to his house,
“Vincent. bWilliams: “Imperfect expresses this idea of duration.”
LUKE 8 239
42 For he had an only daughter, about twelve years
of age, and she was dying. As [Jesus] went, the people
pressed together around Him — almost suffocating Him;
43 And a woman who had suffered from a How of
blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon
physicians and could not be healed by anyone,
44 Came up behind Him and touched the tassel of
His garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased.
45 And Jesus said, Who is it that touched Me?
When all were denying it, Peter and those who were
with him said, Master, the multitudes surround You and
press You on every side!
46 But Jesus said, Some one did touch Me; for I
perceived that [healing] power has gone forth from Me.
47 And when the woman saw that she had not es-
caped notice, she came up trembling, and falling down
before Him she declared in the presence of all the
people for what reason she had touched Him, and how
she had been instantly cured.
48 And He said to her, Daughter, your faith — that
is, your conhdence and trust in Me — has made you wel!!
Go Center) “into peace ~ untroubled, undisturbed well-
being.
49 While He was still speaking, a man from the
house of the director of the synagogue came and said
[to Jairus], Your daughter is dead; do not *weary and
trouble the Teacher any further.
50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, Do
not be seized with alarm or struck with fear; simply be-
lieve [‘in Me as able to do this], and she shall be well.
*Trench. bCremer, ¢Thayer.
240 LUKE 9
51 And when He came to the house, He permitted
no one to enter with Him, except Peter and John and
James, and the girl’s father and mother.
52 And all were weeping and bewailing her; but
He said, Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.
53 And they laughed Him to scorn, knowing well
that she was dead.
54 And grasping her hand He called, saying, Child,
arise [‘from the sleep of death]!
55 And her spirit returned [from death], and she
arose immediately; and He directed that she should be
given something to eat.
56 And her parents were amazed, but He charged
them to tell no one what had occurred.
CHAPTER 9
HEN Jesus called together the twelve apostles, and
gave them power and authority over all demons
and to cure diseases,
2 And He sent them out to announce and preach
the kingdom of God and to bring healing.
3 And He said to them, Do not take anything for
your journey, neither walking stick, nor ‘wallet [for a
collection-bag], nor food of any kind, nor money, and
do not have two undergarments Ctunics).
4 And whatever house you enter, stay there until
you go away [from that place].
5 And wherever they do not receive and accept and
welcome you, when you leave that town shake off even
the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.
bCremer. Thayer. 4Moulton and Milligan,
LUKE 9 241
6 And departing they went about from village to
village, preaching the Gospel and restoring the afflicted
to health everywhere.
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was
being done by [Jesus], and he was (thoroughly) per-
plexed and troubled, because it was said by some that
John [the Baptist] had been raised from the dead;
8 And by others that Elijah had appeared; and by
others, that one of the prophets of old had come back to
life.
9 But Herod said, John I beheaded; but Who is this
about Whom I [learn] such things by hearsay? And
he sought to see Him.
10 On their return the apostles reported to Jesus all
that they had done. And He took them [along with
Him] and withdrew into privacy near a town called
Bethsaida.
11 But when the crowds learned of it, [they] fol-
lowed Him; and He welcomed them [and] talked to
them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who
needed restoration to health.
12 Now the day began to decline, and the twelve
came and said to Him, Dismiss the crowds and send
them away, so that they may go to the neighboring ham-
lets and villages and the surrounding country and find
lodging, and get a ‘supply of provisions; for we are here
in an uninhabited (barren, solitary) place.
13 But He said to them, You [yourselves] give them
[food] to eat. They said, We have not more than five
@ Vincent.
242 LUKE 9
loaves and two fishes, unless we are to go and buy food
for all this crowd, [II Kings 4:42-44.]
14 For there were about five thousand men. And
[Jesus] said to His disciples, Have them [sit down] re-
clining in table-groups (companies), of about fifty each.
15 And they did so, and made them all recline.
16 And taking the five loaves and the two fishes, He
looked up to heaven, and (praising God) gave thanks
and asked Him to bless them [to their use]. Then He
broke them and gave them to the disciples to place be-
fore the multitude.
17 And all the people ate and were satished. And
they gathered up what remained over, twelve (*small
hand )baskets of broken pieces.
18 Now it occurred that as Jesus was praying private-
ly the disciples were with Him, and He asked them,
Who do men say that I am?
19 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some
say, Elijah, and others, that one of the ancient prophets
has come back to life.
20 And He said to them, But who do you [your-
selves] say that I am? And Peter replied, The Christ of
God!
21 But He strictly charged and sharply commanded
them (*under penalty) to tell this to no one — no one,
“whoever he might be.
22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things,
and be (deliberately) disapproved and repudiated and
rejected on the part of the elders and chief priests and
*Vincent. bVincent. But Moulton and Milligan think size not meant.
LUKE 9 243
scribes, and be put to death, and on the third day be
raised [again].
23 And He said to all, If any person wills to come
after Me, let him deny himself — that is, "disown him-
self, ‘forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests,
4refuse and give up himself — and take up his cross daily,
and follow Me [that is, ‘cleave steadfastly to Me, con-
form wholly to My example, in living and if need be in
dying also].
24 For whoever would preserve his life and save
it, will lose and destroy it; but whoever loses his life
for My sake, he will preserve and save it [from the
penalty of eternal death].
25 For what does it proht a man, if he gains the
whole world and ruins or forfeits Closes) himself?
26 Because whoever is ashamed of Me and of My
teachings, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when
He comes in the [‘threefold] glory (that is, the splendor
and majesty) of Himself and of the Father and of the
holy angels.
27 However I tell you truly, there are some of those
standing here who will not taste of death before they
sce the kingdom of God.
28 Now about eight days after these teachings, Jesus
took with Him Peter and John and James, and went
up on the mountain to pray.
29 And as He was praying, the appearance of His
countenance became altered (different), and His raiment
became dazzling white — ‘flashing with the brilliance of
lightning.
bMoulton and Milligan. ¢ Thayer. 4Cremer. ®Vincent.
244 LUKE 9
30 And behold, two men were conversing with Him,
Moses and Elijah,
31 Who appeared in splendor and majesty and
brightness and were speaking of His exit [from life],
which He was about to bring to realization at Jerusalem.
32 Now Peter and those with him were weighed
down with sleep. But when they fully awoke they saw
His glory (splendor and majesty and brightness) and the
two men who stood with Him.
33 And it occurred as the men were parting from
Him, that Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is delightful
and good that we are here; and let us construct three
booths or huts, one for You and one for Moses and one
for Elijah! not noticing or knowing what he was saying.
34 But even as he was saying this, a cloud came
and began to overshadow them; and they were seized
with alarm and struck with fear as they entered into
the cloud.
35 Then there came a voice out of the cloud, saying,
This is My Son, My Chosen One — *My Beloved; listen
to and yield to and obey Him!
36 And when the voice had died away, Jesus was
found there alone. And they kept still and told no one
at that time any of these things that they had seen.
37 Now it occurred the next day, when they had
come down from the mountain, that a great multitude
met Him.
38 And behold, 2 man from the crowd shouted out,
Master, I implore You to look at my son, for he is my
only child;
*Many ancient authorities so read.
LUKE 9 245
39 And behold, a spirit seizes him and suddenly he
cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth,
and he is sorely shattered, and it will scarcely leave him.
40 And I implored Your disciples to drive it out, but
they could not.
41 Jesus answered, O Cfaithless ones,) unbelieving
and without trust in God, a perverse (wayward, "crook-
ed and ‘warped ) generation! Until when am I to be with
you and bear with you? Bring your son here [to Me].
42 And even while he was coming the demon threw
him down, and (completely) convulsed him. But Jesus
censured and severely rebuked the unclean spirit and
healed the child, and restored him to his father.
43 And all were astounded at the evidence of God’s
mighty power and His majesty and magnificence. But
[while] they were all marveling at everything Jesus was
doing, He said to His disciples,
44 Let these words sink into your ears: the Son of
man is about to be delivered into the hands of men
[*whose conduct is opposed to God].
45 However, they did not comprehend this saying,
and it was kept hidden from them so that they should
not grasp it and understand, and they were afraid to ask
Him about the statement.
46 But a controversy arose among them as to which
of them might be the greatest — that is, be surpassing the
others in excellence, worth and authority.
47 But Jesus, as He perceived the thought of their
heart, took a little child and put him at His side,
48 And told them, Whoever receives and accepts and
“Wycliffe. bT yndale. ¢Vincent. 4Cremer.
246 LUKE 9
welcomes this child in My name and for My sake re-
ceives and accepts and welcomes Me; and whoever so
receives Me so also receives Him Who sent Me; for he
who is least and lowliest among you all, he is [the one
who is truly] great.
49 John said, Master, we saw a man driving out
demons in Your name, and we commanded him to stop
it, for he does not follow along with us.
50 But Jesus told him, Do not forbid [people]; for
whoever is not against you is for you.
51 Now when the time was almost come for Jesus
to be received up, He steadfastly and determinedly set
His face to go to Jerusalem. And He sent messengers
before Him.
52 And they reached and entered a Samaritan village
to make ready for Him;
53 But [the people] would not welcome or receive or
accept Him, because His face was [set as if He were]
going to Jerusalem.
54 And when His disciples James and John ob
served this, they said, Lord, do You wish us to command
fire to come down from heaven and consume them, even
as Elijah dide [II Kin. 1:9-16.]
55 But He turned and rebuked and severely cen-
sured them. He said, you do not know of what sort of
Spirit you are,
56 For the Son of man did not come to destroy men’s
lives, but to save (them “from the penalty of eternal
death). And they journeyed on to another village.
57 And it occurred that, as they were going along
dCremer
LUKE 10 247
the road, a man said to Him, Lord, I will follow You
wherever You go.
58 And Jesus told him, Foxes have lurking-holes, and
the birds of the air have roosts and nests; but the Son
of man has no place to lay His head.
59 And He said to another, "become My disciple;
side with My party, and accompany Me! But he re-
plied, Lord, permit me first to go and bury [°await the
death of] my father.
60 But Jesus said to him, Allow the dead to bury
their own dead; but as for you, go and publish abroad
"throughout all regions the kingdom of God.
61 Another also said, 1 will follow You, Lord, and
become Your disciple, avd side with Your party; but
let me first say goodbye to those at my home.
62 Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to
the plow and looks back [to the things behind] is fit for
the kingdom of God.
CHAPTER 10
OW after this the Lord chose and appointed seventy
others, and sent them out ahead of Him, two by
two, into every town and place where He Himself was
about to come (visit).
2 And He said to them, ?CThere is much ripe grain,)
the harvest indeed is abundant, but the farm hands are
few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out
laborers into His harvest.
3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs
into the midst of wolves..
m Thayer. 0 Vincent. 0 Many commentators. P Wycliffe.
248 LUKE 10
4 Carry no purse, no provisions bag, no [change of ]
sandals; refrain from [retarding your journey by] salut-
ing and wishing well any one along the way.
5 Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to
this household! — [that is], ‘freedom from all the dis-
tresses that result from sin be with this family.
6 And if anyone [worthy] of peace and blessedness
is there, the peace and blessedness you wish shall come
upon him; but if not, it shall come back to you.
7 And stay on in the same house, eating and drink-
ing what they provide, for the laborer is worthy of his
wages; do not keep moving from house to house. [Deut.
24:15. ]
8 Whenever you go into a town and they receive and
accept and welcome you, eat what is set before you;
9 And heal the sick in it and say to them, The king-
dom of God has come close to you.
10 But whenever you go into a town and they do
not receive and accept and welcome you, go out into its
streets and say,
11] Even the dust of your town that clings to our
feet we are wiping off against you; yet know and under-
stand this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.
12 I tell you, it shall be more tolerable in that day
for Sodom than for that town. [Gen. 19:24-28.]
13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty miracles performed in you had been
performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented
long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
e¢Cremer.
LUKE 10 249
11 However it shall be more tolerable in the judg-
aent for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted unto
icaven? You shall be brought down to Hades Cthe
egions of the dead).
16 He who hears and heeds you [disciples] hears
47d heeds Me; and he who slights and rejects you, slights
md rejects Me; and he who slights and rejects Me, slights
nad rejects Him who sent Me.
17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord,
‘ven the demons are subject to us in Your name!
18 And He said to them, I saw Satan falling like a
ightning [flash] from heaven.
19 Behold! I have given you authority and power
Ὁ trample upon serpents and scorpions, and (physical
ind mental strength and ability) over all the power that
he cnemy [possesses], and nothing shall in any way
yarm you.
20 Nevertheless do not rejoice at this, that the spirits
ire subject to you, but rejoice that your names are en-
rolled in heaven. [I:x. 32:32; Ps. 69:28; Dan. 12:1.]
21 In that same hour He rejoiced and gloried in
the Holy Spirit and said, I thank You, Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, that You have concealed these things
[relating to salvation] from the wise and understanding
and learned, and revealed them to babes — the childish,
unskilled and untaught. Yes, Father, for such was Your
gracious ‘will and choice and good pleasure.
22 All things have been given over [into My power]
by My Father, and no one knows Who the Son is except
¢Thayer.
250 LUKE 10
the Father, or Who the Father is except the Son and:
any one to whom the Son may choose to reveal and
make Him known.
23 Then turning to His disciples He said privately,.
Blessed — happy, ‘to be envied — are those whose eyes
see what you see!
24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings
longed to see what you see, and they did not see it, and.
to hear what you hear, and they did not hear it.
25 And then a certain lawyer arose to try (test,
tempt.) Him, saying, Teacher, what am I to do to inherit:
everlasting life — [that is], to partake of eternal salvation
in the Messiah’s kingdom?
26 Jesus said to him, What is written in the Law;
How do you read it?
27 And he replied, You must love the Lord your
God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with
all your strength, and with all your mind; and your
neighbor as yourself. [Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18.]
28 And Jesus said to him, You have answered cor-
rectly; do this, and you will live — enjoy active, blessed,
endless life in the kingdom of God.
29 And he, ‘determined to acquit himself of reproach,
said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
30 Jesus “taking him up replied, A certain man was
going from Jerusalem down to Jericho and he fell among
robbers, who stripped him of his clothes and belongings,
and beat him, and went their way [‘unconcernedly] leav-
ing him half dead, as it happened.
31 Now by ‘coincidence a certain priest was going
eSouter. 4Vincent,
LUKE 10 251
down along that road; and when he saw him he passed
by on the other side.
32 A Levite likewise came down to the place and
saw him, and passed by on the other side [of the road].
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled along
came down to where he was, and when he saw him was
moved with pity azd sympathy [for him].
34 And went to him and dressed his wounds, pour-
ing on [them] oil and wine. Then he set him on his own
beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And the next day he took out two denarii [two
day’s wages], and gave [them] to the innkeeper, saying,
Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, 1 [my-
self] will repay you when I return.
36 Which of these three, do you think, proved him-
self neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?
37 He answered, The one who showed pity and
mercv to him. And Jesus said to him, Go and do
likewise.
38 Now while they were on their way, it occurred
that Jesus entered a certain village, aud a woman named
Martha received and welcomed Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister named Mary, who seated
herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His
teaching.
40 But Martha Coveroccupied and too busy) was
distracted about much serving; and she came up to Him
and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has
left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me —to
lend a hand and do her part along with me.
252 LUKE 11
41 But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha,
Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things;
42 There is need of (but δὰ few things, or) ‘only
one. Mary has chosen the good portion — ‘that which is
to advantage — which shall not be taken away from her.
CHAPTER 11
HEN He was praying in a certain place, and when
He stopped, one of His disciples said to Him, Lord,
teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.
2 And He said to them, When you pray, say, [Our]
Father, [Who is in heaven,] hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done —held holy
and revered — on earth as it is in heaven.
3 Give us daily our bread (*food for the morrow),
4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also
forgive every one who is indebted to us — who has offend-
ed us or done us wrong; and bring us not into tempta-
tion, but rescue us from evil.
5 And He said to them, Which of you who has a
friend will go to him at midnight and will say to him,
Friend, lend me three loaves [of bread],
6 For a friend of mine who is on a journey has just
come, and I have nothing to put before him;
7 And he from within will answer, Do not disturb
me; the door is now closed, and my children are with me
in bed; I cannot get up and supply [you with anything]?
8 I tell you, although he will not get up and supply
him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his
*Moulton and Milligan.
*Mapny ancient authorities read “few things’ or ‘“‘only one.”’ fCremer.
LUKE 11 253
shameless persistence and insistence, he will get up and
zive him as much as he needs.
9 So I say to you, Ask and »keep on asking, and it
shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking, and you
shall find; knock and *keep on knocking, and the door
shall be opened to you.
10 For every one who asks and keeps on asking re-
ceives, and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds,
and to him who knocks and Pkeeps on knocking the door
shall be opened.
11 What father among you, if his son asks for @
loaf of bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for
a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent:
12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 If you then, evil-minded as you are, know how
to give good gifts — gifts ‘that are to advantage — to your
children, how much more will your heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to.
ask Him!
14. Now Jesus was driving out a demon that was.
dumb, and it occurred that when the demon had gone
out, the dumb man spoke. And the crowds marveled.
15 But some of them said, He drives out demons.
[because He is in league with, and] by Beelzebub, the
prince of demons;
16 While others, to try and test and tempt Him, de-
manded a sign of Him from heaven.
17 But He, [well] aware of their intent and purpose,
said to them, Every kingdom split up against itself is.
Wiliams: ‘‘This continuance is itn the present imperative and present .
participles often repeated.” Cremer.
254 LUKE 11
doomed and brought to desolation, and so house falls
upon house. — The disunited household will collapse.
18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how
will his kingdom last? For you say that I expel demons
with the help of and by Beelzebub.
19 Now if I expel demons with the help of and by
Beelzebub, with whose help and by whom do your sons
drive them out? ‘Therefore they shall be your judges.
20 But if I drive out the demons by the finger of God,
then the kingdom of God has (already) come upon you.
21 When the strong man, fully armed, C‘from his
courtyard) guards his own dwelling, his belongings are
undisturbed — his property is at peace (secure).
22 But when one stronger than he attacks him and
conquers him, he robs him of his whole armor on which
he had relied, and divides up and distributes all his goods
as plunder (spoil).
23 He who is not with Me — siding and believing
with Me -— is against Me, and he who does not gather
with Me Cengage in My interest), scatters.
24 When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person,
he roams through waterless places in search [of a place]
of rest Crelease, refreshing, ease); and finding none he
says, I will go back to my house from which I came.
25 And when he arrives, he finds [the place] swept
and put in order and furnished and decorated.
26 And he goes and brings other spirits, seven [of
them], more evil than himself, and they enter in, settle
down and dwell there; and the last state of that person
is worse than the first.
4 Vincent.
LUKE 11 255
27 Now it occurred that as He was saying these
things, a certain woman in the crowd raised her voice
and said to Him, Blessed — happy and “ἴο be envied, is
the womb that bore You, and the breasts that You
sucked!
28 But He said, Blessed — happy and °to be envied —
rather are they who hear the Word of God and obey and
practise it!
29 Now as the crowds were Cincreasingly) thronging
Him, He began to say, This present generation is a
wicked one; it seeks and demands a sign (miracle), but no
sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah [the
prophet]. [Jonah 1:17 with Matt. 12:40.]
30 For [just] as Jonah became a sign to the people
of Nineveh, so will also the Son of man be [a sign] to
this age and generation. [Jonah 3:4-10.]
31 The queen of the South will arise in the judgment
with the people of this age and generation and condemn
them; for she came from the ends of the Cinhabited)
earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and notice,
bhere is more than Solomon. [I Kin. 10:1-13, 1 Chron.
9:1-12.1
32 The men of Nineveh will appear as witnesses at
the judgment with this generation and will condemn it;
for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold,
bhere is more than Jonah. [Jonah 3:4-10.]
33 No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or
crypt or under a bushel measure, but on a [lamp]stand,
that those who are coming in may see the light.
34 Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your
Wycliffe. ε Souter.
256 LUKE 11
eye [‘your conscience] is sound and fulfilling its office,
your whole body is full of light; but when it is not sound
and is not fulfilling its office, your body is full of dark-
ness.
35 Be careful therefore that the light that is in you
be not darkness.
36 If then your entire body is illuminated, having no
part dark, it will be wholly bright [with light], as when
a lamp with its bright rays gives you light.
37 Now while Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited
Him to take dinner with him, so He entered and reclined
at table.
38 The Pharisee noticed and was astonished [to see]
that Jesus did not first wash before dinner.
39 But the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees
cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but
inside you yourselves are full of greed and robbery and
extortion and malice and wickedness.
40 You senseless (foolish, stupid) ones — acting with-
out reflection or intelligence! Did not He Who made the
outside make the inside also?
41 But [dedicate your inner self and] give for dona-
tions to the poor of those things which are within [of in-
ward righteousness] and behold, everything is purified
and clean for you.
42 But woe to you, Pharisees! Because you tithe
mint and rue and every (little) herb, and disregard and
neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to
have done without leaving the others undone. [Lev.
27:30; Mic. 6:8.]
¢Cremer.
LUKE 11 257
43 Woe to you, Pharisees! For you love the
best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted and
bowed down to in the market (public) places.
44 Woe to you! For you are like graves which ,are
not marked or seen, and men walk over them without
being aware of it [and are ceremonially defiled].
45 One of the experts of the [Mosaic] Law answered
Him, Teacher, in saying this you reproach and outrage
and affront even us!
46 But He said, Woe to you, the lawyers, also! For
you load men with oppressive burdens hard to bear, and
you do not personally [even *gently] touch the burdens
with one of your fingers.
47 Woe to you! For you are rebuilding and repair-
ing the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers
killed Cdestroyed).
48 So you bear witness, and give your full approval
and consent to the deeds of your fathers; for they actually
killed them, and you rebuild and repair monuments to
them.
49 For this reason also the Wisdom of God said, I will
send them prophets and apostles, [some] of whom they
will put to death and persecute,
50 So that the blood of all the prophets shed from
the foundation of the world may be charged against and
required of this age and generation,
51 From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah,
who was slain between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes,
I tell you, it shall be charged against and required of
this age and generation. [Gen. 4:8; I] Chron. 24:20, 21;
Zech. 1:1.]
'Vincent. vThayer.
258 LUKE 12
52 Woe to you, lawyers — experts in the [Mosaic]
Law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge;
you did not go in yourselves, and you hindered and pre-
vented those who were entering.
53. As He left there, the scribes and the Pharisees
[followed Him closely, and they] began ¥to be enraged
with and set themselves violently against Him, and to
draw Him out and provoke Him to speak of many things,
54 Secretly watching and plotting and lying in wait
for Him, to seize upon something He might say [that
they might accuse Him].
CHAPTER 12
N the meanwhile, when so many thousands of the
people had gathered that they were trampling on one
another, Jesus commenced by saying, primarily to His
disciples, Be on your guard against the leaven (ferment)
of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy [producing unrest
and violent agitation].
2 Nothing is [so closely] covered up that it will not
be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
3 Whatever you have spoken in the darkness shall
be heard and listened to in the light, and what you have
whispered in [people’s] ears and behind closed doors,
will be proclaimed upon the housetops.
4 I tell you, My friends, do not dread and be afraid
of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing
more that they can do.
5 But I will warn you whom you should fear: fear
Him Who, after killing, has power to hurl into hell CGe-
henna); yes, I say to you, fear Him!
bThayer.
LUKE 12 259
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And
[yet] not one of them is forgotten or uncared for in the
presence of God.
7 But [even] the verv hairs of your head are all num-
bered. Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm;
you are of greater worth than many [flocks] of sparrows.
8 And I tell you: Whoever declares openly — speak-
ing out freely — and confesses that he is My worshipper
and acknowledges Me before men, the Son of man also
will declare and confess and acknowledge him before the
angels of God.
9 But he who disowns and denies and rejects and
refuses to acknowledge Me before men will be disowned
and denied and rejected and refused acknowledgement
in the presence of the angels of God.
10 And everyone who makes a statement or speaks a
word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him;
but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit [that is,
whoever “intentionally comes short of the reverence due
the Holy Spirit], it will not be forgiven him — for him
there is no forgiveness.
11 And when they bring you before the synagogues
and the magistrates and the authorities, do not be anxious
[beforehand] how you shall reply in defense or what you
are to say.
12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very
hour and ‘moment what [you] ought to say.
13 Someone from the crowd said to Him, Master,
order my brother to divide the inheritance and share it
with me.
«Thayer. *Moulton and Milligan.
260 LUKE 12
14 But He told him, Man, who has appointed Me a
judge or umpire and divider over you?
15 And He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep
free from [all] covetousness — the immoderate desire for
wealth, the greedy longing to have more; for a man’s
life does not consist and is not derived from possessing
4overowing abundance, or that which is *over and above
his needs.
16 Then He told them a parable, saying, The land
of a rich man was fertile and yielded plentifully;
17 And he considered and debated within himself,
What shall I do? I have no place to gather together my
harvest.
18 And he said, I will do this: I will pull down my
storehouses and build larger ones; and there I will store
all tmy grain (produce) and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many
good things laid up, [enough] for many years; take your
ease, eat, drink and enjoy yourself merrily.
20 But God said to him, You fool! This very night
®they [that is, the messengers of God] demand your soul
of you; and all the things that you have prepared, whose
will they be? [Jer. 17:11; Job. 27:8.]
21 So it is with him who continues to lay up and
hoard possessions for himself, and is not rich [in his
relation] to God — this is how he fares.
22 And [Jesus] said to His disciples, Therefore I tell
you, do not be anxious and troubled [with cares] about
your life, as to what you will [have to] eat, or about your
body, as to what you will [have to] wear;
4Souter. ¢Abbott-Smith. fSome ancient texts read ‘‘grain.”’
®Vincent: ‘The indefiniteness is impressive.’”’
LUKE 12 261
23 For life is more than food, and the body {more}
than clothes.
24 Observe and consider the ravens, for they neither
sow nor reap, thev have neither storehouse nor barns,
and [yet] God feeds them. Of how much more worth
are you than the birds!
25 And which of you by being overanxious and
troubled with cares can add a *cubit to his stature, or a
moment [unit] of time to his "age — the length of his
life?
26 If then you are not able to do such a little
thing as that, why are you anxious and troubled with
cares about the rest?
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow, they neither
[wearily] toil nor spin nor »weave; yet I tell you, even
Solomon in all his glory — his splendor and magnificence
— was not arrayed like one of these. [JI Kin. 10:1-10.]
28 But if God so clothes the grass in the held, which
is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace,
how much more will He clothe you, O you [people] of
little faith?
29 And you, do not seek [by meditating and reason-
ing to inquire into] what you are to eat and what you
are to drink, nor be of anxious (troubled) mind — ‘unset-
tled, excited, worried and 4in suspense;
30 For all the pagan world is [greedily] seeking after
these things, and your Father knows that you need
them.
31 Only aim at and strive for and seek after His
*Abbott-Smith: ‘‘A stage of growth whether measured by age or stature.’
bSome ancient authorities read, ‘‘weave.”’ ¢Vincent. 4A bbott-Smith.
262 LUKE 12
kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you
also.
32 Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear,
little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give
you the kingdom!
33 Sell what you possess and give donations to the
poor; provide yourselves with purses and handbags that
do not grow old, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure
in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth
destroys.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart
be also.
35 Keep your loins girded and your lamps burning,
36 And be yourselves like men who are waiting for
their master to return home from the marriage feast,
so that when he shall return from the wedding and comes
and knocks, they may open to him immediately.
37 Blessed —happy, fortunate and ‘to be envied —
are those servants whom the master finds awake and
alert and watching when he comes. Truly, I say to you,
he will gird himself and have them recline at table
and will come and serve them!
38 If he comes in the second watch (before mid-
night), or the third watch (after midnight), and finds
them so, blessed — happy, fortunate and ‘to be envied —
are those servants!
39 But of this be assured, that if the householder had
known at what time the burglar was coming, he would
have been awake and alert and watching, and would not
fSouter.
LUKE 12 263
have permitted his house to be dug through and broken
open.
40 You also must be ready, for the Son of man is
coming at an hour and a ‘moment when you do not an-
ticipate it.
41 Peter said, Lord, are You telling this parable for
us, or for all alike?
42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful
steward, the wise man whom his master will set over
those in his household service, to supply them their
allowance of food at the appointed time?
43 Blessed — happy, and tto be envied — is that ser-
vant whom his master finds so doing when he arrives.
44 Truly, I tell you, he will set him in charge over
all his possessions.
45 But if that servant says in his heart, My master
is late in coming, and begins to strike the menservants
and the maids, and to eat and drink and get drunk,
46 The master of that servant will come on a day
when he does not expect him and at an hour of which
he does not know, and will punish him and ®cut him off
and assign his lot with "the unfaithful.
47 And that servant who knew his master’s will,
but did not get ready or act as he would wish him to
act, shall be beaten with many [lashes].
48 But he who did not know and did things worthy
of a beating shall be beaten with few [lashes]. For
every one to whom much is given, of him shall much be
required; and of him to whom men entrust much they
*Moulton and Milligan. fSouter. ®Alternate reading. hWycliffe.
264 LUKE 12
will require and demand the more. [Deut. 25:2) 3;
Num. 15:29, 30.]
49 I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and
how I wish that it were already kindled!
50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and
how greatly and sorely I am urged — impelled, *constrain-
ed — until it is accomplished!
51 Do you suppose that I have come to give peace
upon earth? No, I say to you, but rather division;
52 For from now on in one house there will be five
divided [among themselves], three against two and two
against three.
53 They will be divided, father against son and son
against father, mother against daughter and daughter
against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. [Mic.
7:6. ]
54 He also said to the crowds of people, When you
see a cloud rising in the west, at once you say, It is going
to rain! And so it does.
55 And when [you see that] a south wind is blow-
ing, you say, [here will be severe heat! And it occurs.
56 You play actors — hypocrites! You know how [in-
telligently] to discern and interpret and "prove the looks
of the earth and sky, but how is it you do not know
how to discern and interpret and apply the proof to
the present time?
57 And why do you not judge what is just, and
personally decide what is right?
58 Then, as you go with your accuser before a mag-
bWycliffe.
LUKE 13 265
istrate, on the way make diligent effort to settle and
be quit of him, lest he drag you to the judge, and
the judge turn you over to the officer, and the ofhcer
put you in prison.
59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have
paid the very last (fraction of a) cent.
CHAPTER 13
UST at that time there [arrived] some people who
J informed Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate
mixed with their sacrifices.
2 And He replied by saying to them, Do you think
that those Galileans were greater sinners than all the
other Galileans, because they have suffered in this way?
3 I tell you, No; but unless you repent — [that is, ]
“change your mind for the better and heartily amend
your ways with abhorrence of your past sins — you will
all likewise perish and be lost [eternally].
4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam
fell and killed them, do you think that they were
more guilty offenders (debtors) than all the others who
dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, No; but unless you repent — [that is, ]
"change your mind for the better and heartily amend
your ways with abhorrence of your past sins — you will
all likewise perish and be lost [eternally].
6 And He told them this parable: A certain man
had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came look-
ing for fruit on it, but did not nd [any].
*Thayer.
bJamieson, Fausett and Brown; George W. Clark; Matthew Henry, ete.
266 LUKE 13
7 So he said to the vinedresser, See here! For these
three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree
and I find none. Cut it down; why should it continue
also to use up the ground — that is, to ‘deplete the soil,
intercept the sun and take up room?
8 But he replied to him, Leave it alone, sir, [just]
this one more year, till I dig around it and put manure
[on the soil];
9 Then perhaps it will bear fruit after this, but if
not, you can cut it down and out.
10 Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues.
on the Sabbath.
11 And there was a woman there who for eighteen
years had had an ‘infirmity caused by a spirit [34 demon
of sickness]. She was ‘bent completely forward and ut-
terly unable to straighten herself or to Slook upward.
12 And when Jesus saw her, He called [her to Him]
and said to her, Woman, you are released from your
inhrmity!
13 Then He laid [His] hands on her and instantly
she was made straight, and she ‘recognized and thanked
and praised God.
14 But the *leader of the synagogue, indignant be-
cause Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the
crowd, There are six days on which work ought to
be done, so come on those days and be cured, and
not on the Sabbath day. [Ex. 20:9, 10.]
15 But the Lord replied to him, saying, You play
actors — hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the
*Bengel’s ‘““Gnomon Novi Testamenti.” (-Vincent.) 4 Vincent.
© Cremer. f Thayer. 8 Souter.
LUKE 13 267
Sabbath loose his ox or his donkey from the stall, and
lead it out to water it?
16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abra-
ham whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen years, be
loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?
17 Even as He said this, all His opponents were put
to shame, and all the people were rejoicing over all the
glorious things that were being done by Him.
18 This led Him to say, What is the kingdom of
God like? And to what shall I compare it?
19 It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man
took and planted in his own garden; and it grew and
became a tree, and the wild birds "found shelter and
roosted and nested in its branches.
20 And again He said, To what shall I liken the
kingdom of God?
21 It is like leaven which a woman took and hid
in three measures of wheat flour or meal, until it was all
leavened (fermented).
22 [Jesus] journeyed on through towns and villages,
teaching, and making His way toward Jerusalem.
23 And one asked Him, Lord, will only a few be
saved [that is, rescued, delivered from the penalties of
the last judgment, and made partakers of the salvation
by Christ]? And He said to them,
24 Strive to enter by the narrow door — force your-
selves tnrough it — for many, I tell you, will try to enter
and will not be able.
25 When once the Master of the house gets up and
closes the door, and you begin to stand outside and to
Ὁ Moulton and Milligan.
268 LUKE 13
knock at the door Cagain and again) saying, Lord, open
to us! He will answer you, I do not know where ['what
household, certainly not Mine] you come from.
26 ‘Then you will begin to say, We ate and drank
in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.
27 But He will say, I tell you, I do not know where
(‘what household — certainly not Mine] you come from;
depart from Me, all you wrongdoers!
28 ‘There will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when
you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the proph-
ets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves being cast
forth — banished, driven away.
29 And [people] will come from east and west, and
from north and south and sit down [feast at table} in the
kingdom of God.
30 And behold, there are some [now] last who will
be first [then], and there are some [now] first who will
be last [then].
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came up and
said to Him, Go away from here, for Herod is determined
to kill You.
32 And He said to them, Go and tell that Fox [sly
and crafty, skulking and cowardly], Behold, I drive out
demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and
on the third day I finish (complete) My course.
33 Nevertheless I must continue on My way today
and tomorrow and the day after that, for it will never
do for a prophet to be destroyed away from Jerusalem!
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who continue to
kill the prophets and to stone those who are sent to
1 Vincent.
LUKE 14 269
you! How often I have desired and yearned to gather
vour children together [around Me], as a hen [gathers]
her young under her wings, but you would not!
35 Behold, your house is forsaken — abandoned, left
to you destitute [of God’s help]! And I tell you, you
will not see Me again until the time comes when you
shall say, Blessed (to be celebrated with praises) is He
Who comes in the name of the Lord! [Jer. 22:5;
Ps. 118:26.]
CHAPTER 14
T occurred one Sabbath, when [Jesus] went for a
meal at the house of one of the ruling Pharisees,
that they were (engaged in) watching Him (closely).
2 And behold, [just] in front of Him there was a
man who had dropsy.
3. And Jesus asked the lawyers and the Pharisees, Is
it lawful and right to cure on the Sabbath, or not?
4 But they kept silent. Then He took hold [of the
man and] cured him and #sent him away.
5 And He said to them, Which of you, having °a
son or a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a well, will
not at once pull him out on the Sabbath day?
6 And they were unable to reply to this.
7 Now He told a parable to those who were invited,
[when] He noticed how they were selecting the places
of honor, saying to them,
8 When you are invited by any one to a marriage
feast, do not recline on the chief seat — in the place of
«Thayer. bMany ancient authorities so read.
270 LUKE 14
honor — lest a more distinguished person than you has
been invited by him; [Prov. 25:6, 7.]
9 And he who invited both of you will come to you
and say, Let this man have the place [you have taken].
Then with humiliation and a guilty sense of impropriety
you will begin to take the lowest place.
10 But when you are invited, go and recline in the
lowest place, so that when your host comes in he may
say to you, Friend, go up higher! Then you will be
honored in the presence of all who sit [at table] with you.
11 For every one who exalts himself will be humbled
[that is, ranked below others who are honored or re-
warded], and he who humbles himself [that is, keeps a
modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly] will
be exalted — elevated in rank.
12 Jesus also said to the man who had invited Him,
When you give a dinner or a supper, do not invite your
friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy
neighbors, lest perhaps they also invite you in return and
you be paid back.
13 But when you give a banquet or a reception,
invite the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind.
14 Then you will be blessed — happy, fortunate and
‘to be envied — because they have no way of repaying
you, and you will be recompensed at the resurrection of
the just Cupright).
15 When one of those who reclined [at the table]
with [Him] heard this, he said to Him, Blessed — happy,
fortunate and ‘to be envied — is he who shall eat bread
in the kingdom of God!
¢eSouter.
LUKE 14 271
16 But Jesus said to him, A man was once giving a
great supper and invited many;
17 And at the hour for the supper he sent his
servant to say to those who had been invited, Come, for
all is now ready.
18 But they all alike began to make excuses and to
beg off. The first said to him, I have bought a piece of
land, and 1 have to go out and see it; I beg you, have me
excused.
19 And another said, 1 have bought five yoke of
oxen, and I am going to examine and ‘put my approval
on them; I beg you, have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and
because of this I am unable to come. [Deut. 24:5.]
21 So the servant came and reported these [answers]
to his master. Then the master of the house said in
wrath to his servant, Go quickly to the ‘great streets
and the small streets of the city, and bring in here the
poor and the disabled and the blind and the lame.
22 And the servant [returning] said, Sir, what you
have commanded me to do has been done, and yet there
is room.
23 Then the master said to the servant, Go out into
the highways and hedges and urge and constrain [them]
to yield and come in, so that my house may be filled;
24 For I tell you, that no one of those who were in-
vited shall taste my supper.
25 Now huge crowds were going along with [Jesus];
and He turned and said to them,
4Wuest’s ‘“Treasures from the Greek New Testament.”
*Wecliffe.
272 LUKE 14
26 If any one comes to Me and does not hate his
[own] father and mother [that is, tin the sense of in-
difference to or relative disregard for them in comparison
with his attitude toward God] and [likewise] his wife
and children and brothers and sisters, [yes] and even his
own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
27 Whoever does not persevere and carry his own
cross and come after (follow) Me, cannot be My disciple.
28 For which of you, wishing to build a farm-build-
ing, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, whether
he has sufficient means to Anish it?
29 Otherwise, when he has laid the foundation and
is unable to complete [the building], all who see it begin
to mock and jeer at him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not
able (worth enough) to finish.
31 Or what king going to engage in conflict with
another king, will not first sit down and consider and
take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to
meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
32 And if he cannot [do so], when the other king is
still a great way off, he sends an envoy and asks the
[terms] of peace.
33 So then, whoever of you does not forsake — re-
nounce, surrender claim to, give up, "say goodbye to — all
that he has cannot be My disciple.
34 Salt is good —an excellent thing; but if salt has
lost its strength and has become saltless Cinsipid, flat),
how shall its saltmess be restored?
tf Abbott-Smith. €Moulton and Milligan.
bVincent.
LUKE 15 273
35 It is fit neither for the land nor for the manure
heap; men throw it away. He who has ears to hear, let
him listen and consider and comprehend by hearing!
CHAPTER 15
OW the tax collectors and Cnotorious and ‘especially
wicked) sinners were all coming near to [Jesus]
to listen to Him.
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes kept muttering
and indignantly complaining, saying, This man accepts
and receives and welcomes (‘pre-eminently wicked) sin-
ners and eats with them.
3 So He told them this parable:
4 What man of you, if he has a hundred sheep and
should lose one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine
in the wilderness (desert), and go after the one that is
lost, until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his [own]
shoulders rejoicing.
6 And when he gets home, he summons together
[his] friends and [his] neighbors, saving to them, Rejoice
with me, because I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 Thus, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven
over one C'especially) wicked person who repents — [that
is}, ‘changes his mind, abhorring his errors and misdeeds,
and determines to enter upon a better course of life — than
over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need
of repentance.
8 Or what woman, having ten (silver) drachmas
{each one equal to a day’s wages], if she loses one coin,
1 Thayer.
274 LUKE 15
does not light a lamp and sweep the house and look care-
fully and diligently until she finds it?
9 And when she has found it, she summons her
Cwomen) friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with
me, for I have found the silver coin which I had lost.
10 Even so, I tell you, there is joy among and in the
presence of the angels of God over one (‘especially)
wicked person who repents — ‘changes his mind for the
better, heartily amending his ways with abhorrence for
his past sins.
11 And He said, There was a certain man who had
two sons;
12 And the younger of them said to his father,
Father, give me the part of the property that falls [to
me]. And he divided the livelihood [between] them.
(Deut. 21:15-17.]
13 And not many days after that the younger son
gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant
country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and
loose-from-restraint living.
14 And when he had spent all he had, a ‘mighty
famine came upon that country, and he began to fall be-
hind and be in want.
15 So he went and forced (glued) himself upon one
of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his
fields to feed hogs.
16 And he would gladly have fed on (and ‘filled his
belly) with the jcarob pods that the hogs were eating,
but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave
him anything [better]. [Jer. 30:14.]
‘Thayer. JAbbort-Smith. kMany ancient authorities so read.
LUKE 15 275
17 Then when he came to himself, he said, How
many hired servants of my father have enough food and
to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger!
18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say
to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your
sight;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son;
[just] make me as one of your hired servants.
20 So he got up and came to his [own] father. But
while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and
was moved with pity and tenderness [for him], and he
ran and embraced him and kissed him — fervently.
21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned
against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy
to be called your son —I no longer deserve to be recog-
nized as a son of yours!
22 But the father said to his bond servants, Bring
quickly the best robe — the festive, honor robe — and put
it on him, and give him a ring for his hand and sandals
for his feet; [Gen. 41:42; Zech. 3:4.]
23 And bring out !that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill
it, and let us ‘revel and feast and be happy and merry;
24 Because this my son was dead, and is alive again;
he was lost, and is found! And they began to “revel and
feast and make meny.
25 But his older son was in the field, and as he
returned and came near to the house, he heard music
and dancing.
26 And having called one of the servant Cboys) to
him, he began to ask what this meant.
JAbbott-Smith. kSouter. Tyndale.
276 LUKE 16
27 And he said to him, Your brother has come, and
your father has killed ‘that [wheat-]fattened calf, be-
cause he has received him safe and well.
28 But [the elder brother] was angry — with deep-
seated wrath —and resolved not to go in. Then his
father came out [and] began to plead with him,
29 But he answered his father, Lo, these many years
I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your
command; yet you never gave me [so much as] a (little)
kid, that I might "revel and feast and be happy and make
merry with my friends;
30 But when this son of yours arrived, who has
devoured your living with immoral women, you have
killed for him 'that [wheat-]fattened calf!
31 And the father said to him, Son, you are always
with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 But it was fitting to make merry, to "revel and
feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead, and
is alive again! He was lost and is found!
CHAPTER 16
LSO [Jesus] said to the disciples, There was a cer-
tain rich man who had a ™manager of his estate,
and accusations [against this man were brought] to him,
that he was squandering his [master’s] possessions.
2 And he called him and said to him, What is this
that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your
management [of my affairs], for you can be [my] man-
ager no longer.
3 And the manager of the estate said to himself,
kSouter. !Tyndale. Moulton and Milligan.
LUKE 16 277
What shall I do, seeing that my master is taking the
management away from me? I am not able to dig, and
J am ashamed to beg.
4 I have come to know what I will do, so that they
[my master’s debtors] may accept and welcome me
into their houses when I am put out of the management.
5 So he summoned his master’s debtors one by one,
and he said to the first, How much do you owe my
master?
6 He said, A hundred measures [about nine hundred
gallons] of oil. And he said to him, Take back your
written acknowledgement of ‘obligation, and sit down
quickly and write fifty [about four hundred fifty gallons].
7 After that he said to another, And how much do
you owe? He said, A hundred measures [about nine
hundred bushels] of wheat. He said to him, Take back
your written acknowledgement of ‘obligation, and write
eighty [about seven hundred bushels].
8 And [his] master praised the dishonest Cunjust)
manager for acting ‘shrewdly and “prudently; for the
sons of this age are shrewder and more prudent and
wiser in [‘relation to] their own generation — that is, to
their own age and ‘kind — than are the sons of light.
9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by
means of unrighteous mammon [that is, Sdeceitful riches,
money, possessions], so that when it fails, they [those
you have favored] may receive and welcome you into the
everlasting habitations (dwellings).
10 He who is faithful in a very little [thing], is
faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest and un-
Wycliffe, *Vincent. tT yndale. sSouter.
278 LUKE 16
just in a very little [thing], is dishonest and unjust also
in much.
11] ‘Therefore, if you have not been faithful in the
[case of] the unrighteous mammon —the “deceitful
riches, money, possessions — who will entrust to you the
true riches?
12 And if you have not proved faithful in that
which belongs to another [whether God or man], who
will give you that which is your own [that is, *the true
riches |?
13 No servant is able to serve two masters; for either
he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand
by and be devoted to the one and despise the other. You
cannot serve God and mammon-—riches, that is, or
hanything in which you trust and on which you rely.
14 Now the Pharisees, who were covetous and lovers
of money, heard all these things (taken together), and
they began to sneer and ridicule and scoff at Him.
15 But He said to them, You are they who declare
yourselves just and upright before men, but God knows
your hearts. For what is exalted and highly thought of
among men is detestable and abhorrent (an abomination)
in the sight of God. [I Sam. 16:7; Prov. 21:2.]
16 Until John came, there were the Law and the
prophets; since then the good news (the Gospel) of the
kingdom of God is being preached, and every one strives
violently to go in — would force his [‘own way, rather
than God’s] way into it.
17 Yet it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away,
than for one dot of the Law to become void and fail.
*Vincent. eSouter. bhThayer. {Berkeley Version.
LUKE 16 279
18 Whoever (dismisses, repudiates and) divorces his
wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who
marries a woman who is divorced from her husband
commits adultery.
19 There was a certain rich man, who (habitually)
clothed himself in purple and fine linen, and ‘reveled
and feasted and made merry in splendor every day.
20 And at his gate there *was (carelessly) dropped
down and left a certain ‘utterly destitute man, named
Lazarus, (reduced to begging alms) and covered with
C*ulcerated ) sores.
21 He [eagerly] desired to be satished with what fell
from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs even came
and licked his sores.
22 And it occurred that the man (reduced to) beg-
ging died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s
bosom. ‘The rich man also died and was buried.
23 And in Hades [the realm of the dead], being
in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far
away and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried out and said, Father Abraham, have
pity and mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the
tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am
in anguish in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Child, remember that you in
your lifetime fully received Cwhat is due you) in com-
forts and delights, and Lazarus in like manner the dis-
comforts and distresses; but now he is comforted [here],
and you are in anguish.
26 And besides all this, between us and you there
4Souter. 6 Vincent.
280 LUKE 17
is a great chasm fixed, in order that those who want to
pass from this [place] to you may not be able, and no
one may pass from there to us.
27 And [the man] said, Then, father, I beseech you
to send him to my father’s house,
28 For I have five brothers, so that he may give
(solemn) testimony and warn them, lest they too come
into this place of torment.
29 But Abraham said, They have Moses and the
prophets; let them hear and listen to them.
30 But he answered, No, father Abraham; but if
some one from the dead goes to them, they will repent
(‘change their minds for the better and heartily amend
their ways with abhorrence of their past sins).
31 He said to him, If they do not hear and listen
to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be per-
suaded and convinced and believe if some one should
rise from the dead.
CHAPTER 17
ND [Jesus] said to His disciples, ‘Temptations [that
is, snares, traps set to entice to sin] are sure to
come; but woe to him by or through whom they come!
2 It would be more profitable for him if a millstone
were hung around his neck and he were hurled into the
sea, than that he should cause to sin or be a snare to
one of these little ones [*lowly in rank or influence].
3 »Pay attention and always be on your guard — look-
ing out for one another; if your brother sins (misses the
*Abbott-Smith. bMoulton and Milligan. tThayer.
LUKE 17 281
mark), solemnly tell him se and reprove him, and if he
repents (feels sorry for having sinned), forgive him.
4 And even if he sins against you seven times in a
day, and turns to you seven times and says, I repent CI
am sorry), you must forgive him — [that is], give up re-
sentment and consider the offense as recalled and an-
nulled.
5 The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith —
that trust and confidence that springs from our belief in
God.
6 And the Lord answered, If you had faith Ctrust
and confidence in God) even as a grain of mustard
seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, Be pulled up
by the roots, and be planted in the sea, and it would
obey you.
7 Will any man of you, who has a servant plowing
or tending sheep, say to him when he has come in from
the held, Come at once and take your place at the table?
8 Will he not instead tell him, Get my supper ready,
and gird yourself and serve me till I eat and drink; then
afterward you yourself shall eat and drink?
9 Is he grateful and does he praise the servant be-
cause he did what he was ordered to do?
10 Even so on your part, when you have done every-
thing that was assigned and commanded you, say, We
are unworthy servants — possessing no merit, for we have
not gone beyond our obligation; we have [merely] done
what was our duty to do.
11 As He went His way to Jerusalem, it occurred that
[Jesus] was passing [along the border] between Samaria
and Galilee.
282 LUKE 17
12 And as He was going into one village, He was met
by ten lepers, who stood at a distance.
13 And they raised up their voices and called, Jesus,
Master, take pity and have mercy on us!
14 And when He saw them He said to them, Go (Cat
once.) and show yourselves to the priests. And as they
went they were cured and made clean. [Lev. 14:2-32.]
15 Then one of them, upon seeing that he was cured,
turned back, ‘recognizing and thanking and praising God
with a loud voice;
16 And he fell prostrate at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him
Cover and over). And he was a Samaritan.
17 Then Jesus asked, Were not ten cleansed? Where
are the nine?
18 Was there no one found to return and to ‘recog-
nize and give thanks and praise to God except this alien?
19 And He said to him, Get up and go on your way.
Your faith [that is, your trust and confidence that spring
from your belief in God] has restored you to health.
20 Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God
would come, He replied to them by saying, The kingdom
of God does not come with signs to be observed or with
visible display.
21 Nor will [people] say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See,
[it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within
you Cin your hearts) and among you (surrounding you).
22 And He said to the disciples, The time is coming
when you will long to see [even] one of the days of the
Son of man, and you will not see [it].
¢Cremer.
LUKE 17 283
23 And they will say to you, Lo, [He is] there! or,
Lo, [He is] here! But do not go out or follow [them].
24 For as the lightning that flashes and lights up
the sky from [one end] to the [other], so will the Son of
man be in His [own] day.
25 But firsts He must suffer many things and be
disapproved and repudiated and rejected by this age and
generation.
26 And [just] as it was in the days of Noah, so will
it be in the time of the Son of man.
27 [People] ate, they drank, they married, they were
given in marriage, right up to the day when Noah went
into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
[Gen. 6:5-8; 7:6-24.]
28 So also as it was in the days of Lot: [people] ate,
they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they
built;
29 But on the [very] day that Lot went out of
Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and
destroyed [them] all.
30 That is the way it will be on the day that the
Son of man is revealed. [Gen. 18:20-33; 19:24, 25.]
31 On that day, let him that is on the housetop and
his belongings in the house, not come down [and go
inside] to carry them away; and likewise let him who
is in the field not turn back.
32 Remember Lot’s wife! [Gen. 19:26.]
33 Whoever tries to preserve his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life will preserve and ‘quicken it.
tWycliffe.
284 LUKE 18
34 I tell you in that night there will be two men
in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left.
35 There will be two women grinding together; one
will be taken and the other will be left.
36 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken
and the other will be left.
37 Then they asked Him, Where, Lord? He said to
them, Wherever the dead body is, there will the vultures
(Sor eagles) be gathered together.
CHAPTER 18
LSO [Jesus] told them a parable, to the effect that
they ought always to pray and not to "turn coward
— faint, lose heart and give up.
2 He said, In a certain city there was a judge who
neither reverenced and feared God nor respected or
considered man.
3 And there was a widow in that city who kept
coming to him and saying, Protect and defend and
give me justice against my adversary.
4 And for a time he would not; but later he said to
himself, ‘Though I have neither reverence or fear for
God nor respect or consideration for man.
5 Yet because this widow continues to bother me,
I will defend and protect and avenge her; lest she give
me ‘intolerable annoyance and wear me out by her con-
tinual coming, or “at the Jast she come and rail on me,
or "assault me, or ‘strangle me.
«Thayer. dT yndale. Wycliffe.
6 Alternate reading. h Vincent.
LUKE 18 285
6 Then the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust
judge says!
7 And will not [our just] God defend and protect
and avenge His elect CHis chosen ones) who cry to Him
day and night? Will He ‘defer them and "delay help on
their behalf?
8 I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge
them speedily. However, when the Son of man comes
will He find (persistence in) the faith on the earth?
9 He also told this parable to some people who
trusted in themselves and were confident that they were
righteous [that is, that they were upright and in right
standing with God], and scorned and made nothing of all
the rest of men:
10 Two men went up into the temple (enclosure)
to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee "took his stand ostentatiously, and
began to pray thus before and with himself: God, I thank
You that I am not as the rest of men, cxtortioners,
Crobbers)), swindlers — unrighteous in heart and life —
adulterers, or even like this tax collector here.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I gain.
13 But the tax collector, [merely] standing at a dis-
tance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven; but kept
striking his breast, saying, O God, be favorable (be graci-
ous, be merciful) to me — the especially wicked sinner
that I am!
14 I tell you, this man went down to his home
justified — forgiven and made upright and in right stand-
ing with God — rather than the other man; for every one
bVincent. 4Tyndale. tTrench. Thayer.
286 LUKE 18
who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles
himself will be exalted.
15 Now they were also bringing even babies to Him
that He might touch them, and when the disciples
noticed it, they reproved them.
16 But Jesus called them [*the parents] to Him,
saying, Allow the little children to come to Me, and do
not hinder them, for to such [as these] belongs the king-
dom of God.
17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not accept and
receive and welcome the kingdom of God as a little child
[does], shall not in any way enter it Cat all).
18 And a certain ruler asked Him, Teacher, (You
who are ‘essentially and perfectly ‘morally) good, what
shall I do to inherit eternal life [that is, to partake of
eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]?
19 Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me Cessential-
ly and perfectly ‘morally) good? No one Cis ‘essentially
and perfectly ‘morally) good except God only.
20 You know the commandments: Do not commit
adultery; do not kill; do not steal; do not witness falsely;
honor your father and your mother. [Ex. 20:12-16; Deut.
5:16-20.]
21 And he replied, All these I have kept from my
youth.
22 And when Jesus heard it, He said to him, One
thing you still lack. Sell everything that you have and
‘divide [the money] among the poor, and you will have
rich treasure in heaven; and come back [and] follow Me
— become My disciple, join My party and accompany Me.
‘Thayer. bHenry. 'Cremer,
LUKE 18 287
23 But when he heard this, he became distressed and
very sorrowful, for he was rich, exceedingly so.
24 Jesus observing him said, How difhcult it is for
those who have wealth to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a
needle’s eye than [for] a rich man to enter into the king-
dom of God.
26 And those who heard it said, Then who can be
saved?
27 But He said, What is impossible with men is
possible with God. [Gen. 18:14; Jer. 32:17.]
28 And Peter said, See, we have left our own [things]
— home, family and business — and have followed You.
29 And He said to them, I say to you, truly there
is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents
or children for the sake of the kingdom of God,
30 Who will not receive in return many times more
in this world, and in the coming age eternal life.
31 Then taking the twelve (apustles) aside, He said
to them, Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem, and all
things that are written about the Son of man through
and by the prophets will be fulfilled. [Is. 53:1-12.]
32 For He will be handed ove: to the Gentiles, and
will be made sport of and scoffed and jeered at and in-
sulted and spit upon; [Is. 50:6.]
33 They will fog Him and kill Him, and on the
third day He will rise again. [Ps. 16:10.]
34 But they understood nothing of these things; His
words were a mystery and hidden from them, and they
did not comprehend what He was telling them.
288 LUKE 19
35 As He came near to Jericho, it occurred that a
blind man was sitting by the roadside begging;
36 And hearing a crowd going by, he asked what
it meant.
37 They told him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.
38 And he shouted, saying, Jesus, Son of David,
take pity and have mercy on me!
39 But those who were in front reproved him, [tell-
ing him] to keep quiet; yet he *screamed and shrieked so
much the more, Son of David, take pity and have mercy
on me!
40 Then Jesus stood still, and ordered that he be led
to Him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
41 What do you want Me to do for you? He said,
Lord, let me receive my sight!
42 And Jesus said to him, Receive your sight! Your
faith [that is, "your trust and confidence springing from
your faith in God,] has healed you.
43 And instantly he received his sight and began
to follow Jesus — ‘recognizing, praising and honoring
God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.
CHAPTER 19
fs aes [Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing on
through it,
2 And there was a man called Zacchaeus, a tax col-
lector and rich.
3 And he was trying to see Jesus, which [one] He
was; but he could not on account of the crowd, because
he was small in stature.
“Vincent, bThayer. ¢Cremer.
LUKE 19 289
4 So he ran on ahead, and climbed up in a sycamore
tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass
that way.
5 And when Jesus reached the place, He looked up
and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for
I must stay at your house today.
6 So he hurried and came down, and he received
and welcomed Him joyfully.
7 And when the people saw it, they all ‘muttered
among themselves and indignantly complained, He has
gone in to be the guest of and lodge with a man who is
devoted to sin and pre-eminently a sinner.
8 So then Zacchaeus stood up and solemnly declared
to the Lord, See, Lord, the half of my goods I [now]
give [by way of restoration] to the poor; and if I have
cheated any one out of anything, I [now] restore four
times as much. [Ex. 22:1; Lev. 6:5; Num. 5:6, 7.]
9 And Jesus said to him, Today is C¢*Messianic and
spiritual) salvation come to [all the members of] this
household, since Zacchaeus too is a [real spiritual] son of
Abraham;
10 For the Son of man came to seek and to save that
which was lost.
11 Now as they were listening to these things, He
proceeded to tell a parable, because He was approaching
Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom
of God was going to be brought to light and shown forth
immediately.
12 He therefore said, A certain nobleman went into
4Abbott-Smith. *Moulton and Milligan.
290 LUKE 19
.--.-- ᾿-.
a distant country to obtain for himself a kingdom and
then return.
13 Calling ten of his [own] bond servants, he gave
them ten minas [each equal to about one hundred days’
wages or nearly twenty dollars], and said to them, ‘Buy
and sell with these Swhile I go and return.
14 But his citizens detested him, and sent an em-
bassy after him to say, We do not want this man to be-
come ruler over us.
15 When he returned, having received the king-
dom, he ordered these bond servants to whom he had
given the money to be called to him, that he might
know how much each one had made by ‘buying and
selling.
16 The first one came before him, and he said, Lord,
your mina has made ten [additional] minas.
17 And he said to him, Well done, excellent bond
servant! Because you have been faithful and trustworthy
in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.
18 The second one also came, and said, Lord, your
mina has made five more minas.
19 And he said also to him, And you will have charge
over five cities.
20 Then another came and said, Lord, here is your
mina, which 1 have kept laid up in a thandkerchief.
21 For I was constantly afraid of you, because you
are a stern Chard, severe) man; you pick up what you did
not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.
22 He said to the servant, I will judge and condemn
you out of your own mouth, you wicked slave! You knew
*Moulton and Milligan. tTyndale. €Vincent.
LUKE 19 291
(did you], that I was a stern Chard, severe) man, picking
up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not
sow?
23 ‘Then why did you not put my money in a bank,
so that on my return I might have collected it with
interest?
24 And he said to the bystanders, Take the mina
away from him, and give it to him who has the ten minas.
25 And they said to him, Lord, he has ten minas
[already 7
26 And [said Jesus,] I tell you, that to every one
who gets and has, will more be given; but from the man
who does not get, aid does not have, will be taken away
even what he has.
27 [The indignant king ended by saying,] But as
for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to
reign over them, bring them here and "slaughter them in
my presence!
28 And after saying these things, Jesus went on
ahead of them, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When He came near Bethphage and Bethany, at
the mount called Olives, He sent two of His disciples,
30 Telling [them], Go into the village yonder; there
as you go in you will find a donkey’s colt tied, on which
no man has ever yet sat; loose it and bring [it here].
31 If anybody asks you, Why are you untying [it]?
you shall say this, Because the Lord has need of it.
32, So those who were sent went away, and found
it as He had told them.
bVincent.
292 LUKE 19
33 And as they were loosening the colt, its owners
said to them, Why are you untying the colt?
34 And they said, The Lord has need of it.
35 And they brought it to Jesus; then they threw
their garments over the colt, and set Jesus upon it,
[Zech. 9:9.]
36 And as He rode along, the people kept spreading
their garments on the road. [II Kin. 9:13.]
37 As He was approaching [the city], at the descent
of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples
began to rejoice and to praise God, (extolling Him exult-
antly and) loudly for all the mighty miracles and works
of power that they had witnessed,
38 Crying, Blessed — celebrated with praises — be the
King Who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in
heaven — [that is], “freedom [there] from all the dis-
tresses that are experienced as the result of sin; and glory
(majesty and splendor) in the highest [heaven]!
[Ps.118:26.]
39 And some of the Pharisees from the throng said
to Jesus, Teacher, reprove Your disciples!
40 He replied, 1 tell you that if these kept silent,
the very stones would cry out. [Hab. 2:11.]
41 And when as He approached He saw the city, He
wept C/audibly) over it,
42 Exclaiming, Would that you had known person-
ally, even at least in this your day, the things that make
for peace (for “freedom from all the distresses that are
experienced as the result of sin and upon which your
peace, that is, your 'security, safety, prosperity and happi-
4Cremer. J Vincent. 'Thayer.
LUKE 20 293
ness depends)! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
43 Fora time is coming upon you when your enemies
will throw up a ™bank Cwith pointed stakes) about you,
and surround you, and shut you in on every 5146. []Ἰ5.
29:3; Jer. 6:6; Ezek. 4:2.]
44 And they will dash you down to the ground, you
[Jerusalem] and your children within you, and they will
not leave in you one stone upon another; [all] because
you did not come progressively to recognize and know
and understand [from observation and experience] the
time of your visitation [that is, when God was visiting
you, the time "in which God showed Himself gracious
toward you and offered vou salvation through Christ}.
45 Then He went into the temple (enclosure) and
began to drive out those who were selling,
46 Telling them, It is written, My house shall be a
house of prayer, but you have made it a *cave of robbers.
fIs. 56:7; Jer. 7:11.]
47 And He continued to teach day after day in the
temple (porches and courts). The chief priests and
scribes and the leading men of the people were seeking
to put Him to death,
48 But they did not discover anything they could do,
for all the people hung upon His words and ‘stuck by
Him.
CHAPTER 20
CO day as [Jesus] was instructing the people in
the temple [porches] and preaching the good
news (the Gospel), the chief priests and the scribes
came up with the elders [members of the Sanhedrin]
*Moulton and Milligan. bTrench’s ‘‘Synonyms of the New Testament.”
“Tyndale. ™Vincent. Ὁ Thayer.
294 LUKE 20
2 And said to Him, Tell us by what (sort of) author-
ity You are doing these things? Or who is it who
gave You this authority?
3 He replied to them, I will also ask you a question.
Now answer Me:
4 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from
men?
5 And they argued and discussed [it] and reasoned
together ‘with themselves, saying, If we reply, From
heaven, He will say, Why then did you not believe him?
6 But if we answer, From men, all the people will
stone us °to death; for they are ‘long since firmly con-
vinced that John was a prophet.
7 So they replied that they did not know from where
it came.
8 ‘Then Jesus said to them, Neither do I tell you
by what authority I do these things.
9 Then He began to relate to the people this parable
— ‘this story to figuratively portray what He had to say:
A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to some vine-
dressers and went into another country for a long stay.
[Is. 5:1-7.]
10 When the [right] season came, he sent a bond
servant to the tenants, that they might give him [his
part] of the fruit of the vineyard; but the tenants beat
(thrashed) him and sent him away empty-handed.
11 And he sent still another servant; him they also
beat (*thrashed) and dishonored, and insulted him *dis-
gracefully, and sent him away empty-handed.
*Thayer. bSouter. °Vincent.
LUKE 20 295
12 And he sent yet a third; this one they wounded
and threw out [of the vineyard].
13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, What shall I
do? I will send my beloved son; it is ‘probable that they
will respect him.
14 But when the tenants saw him, they argued with
themselves, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, so
that the inheritance may be ours.
15 So they drove him out of the vineyard [and]
killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard
do to them?
16 He will come and C*utterly) put an end to those
tenants, and will give the vineyard to others. When
they [the chief priests and the scribes and the elders]
heard this, they said, May it never be!
17 But [Jesus] looked at them and said, What then
is [the meaning of] this that is written: The [very]
Stone which the builders rejected has become the chief
Stone of the corner? [Ps. 118:22, 23.]
18 Every one who falls on that Stone will be broken
[in pieces]; but upon whomever It falls, It will crush
him — winnow him and 4scatter him as dust. [Is. 8:14,
15; Dan. 2:34, 35.]
19 ‘The scribes and the chief priests desired and tried
to find a way to arrest Him at that very hour, but they
were afraid of the people; for they discerned that He
had related this parable against themselves.
20 So they watched (for an opportunity to ensnare)
Him, and sent spies who pretended to be upright Chonest
and sincere), that they might lay hold of something He
e Thayer. ¢Vincent. ¢Moulton and Milligan.
296 LUKE 20
might say, so as to turn Him over to the control and
authority of the governor.
21 They asked Him, Teacher, we know that You
speak and teach what is right, and show no partiality to
anyone, but teach the way of God honestly and in truth.
22 Is it lawful for us.to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
23 But He recognized and understood their cunning
and “unscrupulousness, and said to them,
24 Show Me (a coin,) a denarius! Whose image and
inscription has it? They answered, Caesar's.
25 He said to them, Then render to Caesar the
things that are Caesar's, ‘and to God the things that
are God’s.
26 So they could not in the presence of the people
take hold of anything He said to turn it against Him,
but marveling at His reply they were silent.
27 Also there came to Him some Sadducees, those
who say that there is no resurrection.
28 And they asked Him a question, saying, Teacher,
Moses wrote for us a law that if a man’s brother dies,
leaving a wife and no children, the man shall take the
woman and raise up offspring for his brother. [Deut.
25:5, 6.4
29 Now there were seven brothers, and the frst
took a wife and died without [having any} children,
30 And the second,
31 Then the third took her, and in like manner all
seven, and they died leaving no children.
32 Last of all the woman died also.
@Vincent. *A protest against Emperor-worship.
LUKE 20 297
33 Now in the resurrection, whose wife will the
woman be? For the seven married her.
34 And Jesus said to them, The people of this
world and present age marry and are given in marriage;
35 But those who are considered worthy to gain that
other world and that future age and to attain to the resur-
rection from the dead neither marry nor are given in
matriage.
36 For they cannot die again, but they are *angel-like
and equal to angels; and being sons of [that is, ‘sharers
in] the resurrection, they are sons of God.
37 But that the dead are raised [‘from death], even
Moses made known and showed in the passage concern-
ing the [burning] bush, where he calls the Lord, The
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob. [Ex. 3:6.]
38 Now He is not the God of the dead, but of the
living; for, to Him, all men are alive [whether in the
body or out of it]; and they are alive [not dead] unto
Him [in definite relationship to Him].
39 And some of the scribes replied, ‘Teacher, you
have spoken well and expertly —‘so that there is no
room for blame.
40 For they did not dare to question Him more.
41 But He asked them, How can people say that
the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, is David’s
Son?
42 For David himself says in [the]. Book of Psalms,
The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand
«Cremer. bAbbort-Smith. ¢ Thayer.
298 LUKE 21
43 Till I make Your enemies a footstool for Your
feet. [Ps. 110:1.]
44 So David calls Him Lord; how then is He his
Son?
45 And with all the people listening, He said to
His disciples,
46 Beware of the scribes, who like to walk about
in long robes, and love to be saluted Cwith honor) in
places where people congregate, and love the front and
best seats in the synagogues, and places of distinction at
feasts,
47 Who make away with and devour widows’ houses,
and (to cover it up) with pretense make long prayers.
They will receive the greater condemnation — the heavier
sentence, the severer punishment.
CHAPTER 21
OOKING up [Jesus] saw the rich people putting
their gifts into the treasury,
2 And He saw also a poor widow putting in two
mites [copper coins].
3. And He said, Truly I say to you, this poor widow
has put in more than all of them;
4 For they all gave out of their abundance — their
surplus — but she has contributed out of her lack and her
want, putting in all that she had on which to live.
> And as some were saying of the temple that it was
decorated with handsome (shapely and magnificent)
stones and consecrated offerings (‘laid up to be kept),
He said,
bThayer.
LUKE 21 299
6 As for all this that you (thoughtfully) behold, the
time will come when there shall not be left here one
stone upon another that will not be thrown down.
7 And they asked Him, Teacher, when will this
happen, and what sign will there be when this is about
to occur?
8 And He said, Be on your guard and be careful
that you are not led astray; for many will come in My
name (“appropriating to themselves the name [Messiah]
which belongs to Me), saying, 1 am He! and, The time
is at hand! Do not go out after them.
9 And when you hear of wars and insurrections —
disturbances, disorder and confusion —do not become
alarmed and panic-stricken and terrifhed; for all this must
take place first, but the end will not [come] immediately.
10 Then He told them, Nation will rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom. [II Chron. 15:6;
Is. 19:2.]
11 There will be mighty and violent earthquakes,
and in various places famines and pestilences (plagues,
‘malignant and contagious or infectious epidemic diseases,
deadly and devastating). And there will be sights of
terror and great signs from heaven.
12 But previous to all this they will lay their hands
on you and persecute you, turning you over to the syna-
gogues and prisons, and you will be led away before
kings and governors for My name’s sake.
13 This will be a time (an opportunity) for you to
bear testimony.
14 Resolve and settle it in your minds, not to
hThayer. 1Webster’s definition of “plague” and ‘‘pestilence.’”’
300 LUKE 21
meditate and prepare beforehand how you are to make
your defense and how you will answer;
15 For I [Myself] will give you a mouth and such
utterance and wisdom as all of your foes combined will
be unable to stand against or refute.
16 You will be delivered up and betrayed even by
parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and
[some] of you they will put to death.
17 And you will be hated Cdespised) by everyone
because [you bear] My name and for its sake.
18 But not a hair of your head shall perish. [I Sam.
14:45.]
19 By your steadfastness and patient endurance you
‘shall win the !true life of your souls.
20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by
armies, then know and understand that its desolation
has come near.
21 ‘Then let those who are in Judea flee to the moun-
tains, and let those who are inside [the city] get out of it,
and let not those who are out in the country come into it;
22 For those are days of vengeance (that is, of ren-
dering full justice or satisfaction), that all things that are
written may be fulfilled.
23 Alas for those who are pregnant and for those
who have babies which they are nursing in those days!
For great misery and anguish and distress shall be upon
the land, and indignation and punishment and retribu-
tion upon this people.
24 They will fall by ‘the mouth and the edge of the
sword, and be led away as captives to and among all
‘Wycliffe. iThayer. KVincent.
LUKE 21 30]
nations, and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the
Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled —
completed. [Is. 63:18; Dan. 8:13.]
25 And there will be signs in the sun and moon and
stars, and upon the earth distress (trouble and anguish)
of nations in bewilderment and perplexity Cthat is, Jwith-
out resources, left wanting, embarrassed, in doubt, not
knowing which way to turn) at (“the echo) the roaring
of the tossing of the sea; [Is. 13:10; Joel 2:10; Zeph.
1:15.]
26 Men swooning away or expiring with fear and
dread and apprehension and expectation of the things
that are coming on the world; for the [very] powers of
the heavens will be shaken and ‘caused to totter.
27 And then they will see the Son of man coming
in a cloud with great (transcendent and overwhelming)
power and [all His kingly] glory (majesty and splendor).
[Dan. 7:13, 14.]
28 Now when these things begin to occur, look up
and lift up your heads, because your redemption Cde-
liverance) is drawing near.
29 And He told them a parable: Look at the hg tree,
and all the trees;
30 When they put forth their buds and come out in
Jeaf, you see for yourselves and perceive and know that
the summer is already near.
31 Even so, when you see these things taking place,
understand and know that the kingdom of God is at
hand.
32 Truly, I tell you, this generation (that is, those
b Cremer. )Thayer. KVincent.
302 LUKE 22
living at that definite period of time), will not perish and
pass away until all has taken place.
33 The ‘sky and the earth (that is, ἐπα universe, the
world) will pass away; but My words will not pass away.
34 But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard
lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed — weighed
down — with the jgiddiness and headache and “nausea
of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and
cares pertaining to (the 'business of) this life, and that
day come upon vou suddenly like a trap or a noose;
35 For it will come upon all who live upon the face
of the entire earth.
36 Keep awake then and watch at all times (that is,
be discreet, attentive and ready); praying that you may
have the full strength and ability and be accounted
worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that
will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son
of man.
37 Now in the daytime Jesus was teaching in (‘the
porches and courts of) the temple, but at night He would
go out and stay on the mount called of Olives.
38 And early in the morning all the people came to
Him in the temple (‘porches or courts) to listen to Him.
CHAPTER 22
OW the festival of Unleavened Bread was draw-
ing near, which is called the Passover.
2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking
how to make away with [Jesus], for they feared the
people.
¢Trench. ι Moulton and Milligan. 4 Thayer. k Abbott-Smith.
' Wycliffe.
LUKE 22 303
3. But [then] Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot,
who was one of the twelve [apostles];
4 And he went away and discussed with the chief
priests and captains how he might betray Him and de-
liver Him up to them.
5 And they were delighted, and pledged [themselves |
to give him money.
6 So he agreed [to this] and sought for an oppor-
tunity to betray Him to them [without an uprising] in
the absence of the throng.
7 Then the day of Unleavened Bread came, on
which the passover [lamb] had to be slain. [Ex. 12: 18-
20; Deut. 16:5-8.]
8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, Go and pre-
pare for us the passover meal, that we may eat it.
9 They said to Him, Where do You want us to
prepare [it]?
10 He said to them, Behold, when you have gone
into the city, a man carrying an earthen jug or pitcher of
water will meet you; follow him into the house which
he enters,
11 And say to the master of the house, ‘The ‘Teacher
asks you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat
the passover [meal] with My disciples?
12 And he will show you a large room upstairs,
furnished [that is, with carpets and with couches prop-
erly spread]; there make [your] preparations.
13 And they went and found it as He had said to
them, and they made ready the passover [supper].
14 And when the hour came, [Jesus] reclined at
table, and the apostles with Him.
304 LUKE 22
15 And He said to them, I have earnestly and in-
tensely desired to eat this passover with you before I
suffer;
16 For I say to you, I shall eat it no more until it is
fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
17 And He took a cup, and when He had given
thanks He said, Take this, and divide and distribute it
among yourselves;
18 For I say to you that from now on I shall not
drink of the fruit of the vine at all until the kingdom
of God comes.
19 Then He took a loaf [of bread], and when He
had given thanks He broke [it] and gave it to them
saying, This is My body which is given for you. Do
this in remembrance of Me.
20 And in like manner He took the cup after supper,
saying, This cup is the new testament or covenant [rati-
fied] in My blood, which is shed Cpoured out) for you.
21 But, lo, the hand of him who "15 now engaged in
betraying Me is with Me on the table. [Ps. 41:9.]
22 For the Son of man goes as it has been determined
and appointed, but woe to that man by whom He is
betrayed and delivered up!
23 And they began to inquire among themselves,
which of them it was who was about to do this. [Ps.
41:9.}
24 Now £an eager contention arose among them,
which of them was considered avd reputed to be the
greatest.
25 But Jesus said to them, The kings of the Gentiles
*Vincent.
LUKE 22 305
hare deified by them and exercise lordship [*ruling as
emperor-gods] over them; and those in authority over
them are called benefactors and well-doers.
26 But this is not to be so with you; on the contrary
let him who is the greatest among you become as the
youngest, and him who is the chief and leader as one
who serves.
27 For which is the greater, he who reclines at table
(the master), or he who serves? Is it not he who reclines
at table? But I am in your midst as one who serves.
28 And you are those who have remained (through-
out) and persevered with Me in My trials;
29 And as My Father has appointed a kingdom and
conferred it on Me, so do I confer on you [the privilege]
and decree
30 ‘That you may eat and drink at My table in My
kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes
of Israel.
31 Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan chas asked
excessively that (all of} you be given up to him — out of
the power and keeping of God —that he might sift all
of you like grain, [Job 1:6-12; Amos. 9:9.]
32 But I have prayed especially for you [Peter] that
your [own] faith may not fail; and when you yourself
have turned again, strengthen and stablish your brethren.
33 And [Simon Peter] said to Him, Lord, I am
ready to go with You both to prison and to death.
34 But Jesus said, I tell you, Peter, before a [single]
cock shall crow this day, you will three times [utterly]
deny that you know Me.
bWuest’s ‘‘Bypaths in the Greek New Testament.” Thayer.
LUKE 22 307
45 And when He got up from prayer, He came to
the disciples and found them sleeping for grief,
46 And He said to them, Why do you sleep? Get
up and pray that you may not enter [at all] into tempta-
tion.
47 And while He was still speaking, behold, there
came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the
twelve [apostles], was going before [leading] them. He
drew near to Jesus to kiss Him;
48 But Jesus said to Him, Judas! Would you betray
and deliver up the Son of man with a kiss?
49 And when those who were around Him saw what
was about to happen, they said, Lord, shall we strike
with the sword?
50 And one of them struck the bond servant of the
high priest and cut off his ear, the right one.
51 But Jesus said, Permit *them to go so far [as to
seize Me]. And [fe touched the ‘little [insignificant]
ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said to those who had come out
against [lim, the chief priests and captains of the temple
and elders [of the Sanhedrin}, [lave you come out
with swords and clubs as against a robber?
53 When I was with you day after day in the
temple C‘enclosure), you did not stretch forth [your]
hands against Mc. But this is your hour, and the power
[which] darkness [gives you has its way].
54 Then they seized Him and led Him away, bring-
ing Him into the house of the high priest. Peter was
following at a distance.
bVincent. ¢Wycliffe. ¢Trench.
306 LUKE 22
35 And He said to them, When I sent you out with
no purse or (provision) bag or sandals, did you lack any-
thing? They answered, Nothing!
36 Then He said to them, But now let him who
has a purse take it, and also Chis provision) bag; and let
him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy a sword.
37 For I tell you that this Scripture must yet be
fulfilled in Me, And He was counted and classed among
the wicked (the outlaws, the criminals); for what is writ-
ten about Me has its fulfillment — has reached its end,
and is finally settled. [Is. 53:12.]
38 And they said, Look, Lord! Here are two swords.
And He said to them, It is enough.
39 And He came out, and went, as was His habit,
to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed
Him.
40 And when [He] came to the place He said to
them, Pray that you may not [at all] enter into tempta-
tion.
41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s
throw, and knelt down and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this
cup from Me; yet not My will, but (¢always) Yours, be
done.
43 And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven,
strengthening Him in spirit.
44 And being in an agony [of mind] He prayed
[the] more earnestly and intently; and His sweat became
like great ’clots of blood dropping down upon the ground.
*Williams: “in the present imperative.” bVincent.
308 LUKE 22
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle
of the courtyard and were seated together, Peter sat
among them.
56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the
firelight and gazing Cintently) at him said, This man too
was with “Him.
57 But he denied it and said, Woman, I do not
know Him!
58 And a little later someone else saw him and said,
You are one of them also. But Peter said, Man, I am not!
59 And when about an hour more had elapsed still
another emphatically insisted, It is the truth that this
man also was with Him, for he too is a Galilean!
60 But Peter said, Man, I do not know what you
are talking about. And instantly, while he was still
speaking, the cock crowed.
61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And
Peter recalled the Lord’s words, how He had told him,
Before the cock crows today, you will deny Me thrice.
62 And he went out, and wept bitterly [that is, with
painfully moving grief].
63 Now the men who had Jesus in custody treated
Him with contempt and scoffed at and ridiculed Him
and beat Him;
64 They blindfolded Him also, and asked Him,
Prophesy! Who is it that struck *You?
65 And they said many other evil and slanderous and
insulting words against Him, reviling Him.
66 As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders
“Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speaker may have
thought He was.
LUKE 23 309
of the people gathered together, both chief priests and
scribes; and they led Him into their council [the Sanhe-
drin], and they said,
67 If You are the Christ, the Messiah, tell us. But
He said to them, If I tell you, you will not believe — trust
in, cleave to and rely on what I say;
68 And if I question you, you will not answer.
69 But hereafter (from this time on) the Son of man
shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.
(Ps. 110:1.]
70 And they all said, You are the Son of God, then?
And He said to them, “It is just as you say; I am.
71 And they said, What further evidence do we
need? For we have heard [it] ourselves from His own
mouth!
CHAPTER 23
IYEN the whole assembly of them got up, and
conducted [Jesus] before Pilate.
2 And they began to accuse Him, asserting, We
found this ‘Man perverting (misleading, corrupting and
turning away) the nation, and forbidding to pay tribute
to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, the Messiah,
the Anointed One, a King!
3. So Pilate asked Him, Are you the King of the
Jews? And He answered him, [τ is just as] you say;
I am.
4 And Pilate said to the chief priests and the throngs,
I find no guilt or crime in this Man.
‘Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speaker may have
thought He was. “Thayer.
310 LUKE 23
5 But they were urgent and emphatic, saying, He
stirs up and excites the people, teaching throughout all
Judea, from Galilee where he began, even to this place.
6 Upon hearing this, Pilate asked whether the Man
was a Galilean.
7 And when he found out certainly that He belonged
to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him up to Herod, [a
higher authority,] who was also in Jerusalem in those
days.
8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly
glad, for he had eagerly desired to see Him for a long
time, because of what he had heard concerning Him,
and he was hoping to witness some sign — some striking
evidence or spectacular performance — done by Him.
9 So he asked Him many questions, but He made
no reply. [Is. 53:7.]
10 Meanwhile the chief priests and the scribes stood
by, continuing vehemently and violently to accuse Him.
11 And Herod with his soldiers treated Him with
contempt, and scoffed at and ridiculed Him; then, dress-
ing Him up in bright and gorgeous apparel, he sent
Him back to Pilate. [Is. 53:8.]
12 And that very day Herod and Pilate became
friends with each other, [though] they had been at
enmity before this.
13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and
the rulers and the people,
14 And said to them, You brought this Man before
me as one Who was perverting and misleading and *turn-
ing away and corrupting the people; and behold, after
“Wycliffe.
LUKE 23 31]
examining Him before you, | have not found any offense,
Ccrime or guilt) in this Man in regard to your accusa-
tions against Him;
15 [No,] nor indeed did Herod, for he sent him back
to us. Behold, He has done nothing deserving of death.
16 I will therefore chastise Him and *deliver Him
amended (reformed, taught His lesson) and release Him.
17 For it was necessary for him to release to them
one prisoner at the feast.
18 But they all together raised a deep cry (from the
depths of their throats), saying, Away with this Man!
Release to us Barabbas!
19 He was a man who had been thrown into prison
for raising a riot in the city and for murder.
20 Once more Pilate called to them, wishing to re-
lease Jesus;
21 But they kept shouting out, Crucify, crucify Him!
22 A third time he said to them, Why, what wrong
has Εἶθ done? J have found (no offense or crime or
guilt) in Him, nothing deserving of death; I will there-
fore chastise Him (in order to teach Him better) and
release Him.
23 But they were insistent and urgent, demanding
with loud cries that He should be crucified. And their
voices prevailed — accomplished their purpose.
24 And Pilate gave sentence that what they asked
should be done.
25 So he released the man who had been thrown
into prison for riot and murder, for whom they continued
*Wycliffe. bVincent.
312 LUKE 23
to ask, but Jesus he delivered up to be done with as
they willed.
26 And as they led Him away, they seized one Simon
of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and
laid on him the cross and made him carry it behind
Jesus.
27 And there accompanied [Jesus] a great multitude
of the people, [including] women who bewailed and
lamented Him.
28 But Jesus turning toward them said, Daughters
of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for your-
selves and for your children.
29 For behold, the days are coming during which
they will say, Blessed — happy, fortunate and ‘to be en-
vied — [are] the barren, and the wombs that have not
borne, and the breasts that have never nursed [babies]!
30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains,
Fall on us; and to the hills, cover (conceal, hide) us!
31 For if they do these things when the timber is
green, what will happen when it is dry?
32 ‘Two others also, who were criminals, were led
away to be executed with Him. [ Is. 53:12.]
33 And when they came to the place which is called
The Skull [Calvary, from the Latin; Golgotha, the
Hebrew equivalent], there they crucifed Him [along
with] the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.
34 And Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they
know not what they do. And they divided His garments
and distributed them by casting lots for them. [Ps.
22:18.]
¢Souter.
LUKE 23 313
35. Now the people stood by, (®calmly and leisurely)
vatching; but the rulers scoffed and sneered (‘turned
ip their noses) at Him, saying, He rescued others (¢from
leath), let Him now rescue Himself, if He is the Christ,
he Messiah of God, His Chosen One!
36 The soldiers also ridiculed and made sport of
Jim, coming up and offering Him vinegar [a sour wine
nixed with water], [Ps. 69:21.]
37 And saying, If you are the King of the Jews,
ave (rescue) Yourself C¢from death).
38 For there was also an inscription above Him in
etters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew, This is the
Xing of the Jews.
39 One of the criminals who were suspended kept
ip a railing at Him, saying, Are You not the Christ, the
Messiah? Rescue Yourself and us (from death)!
40 But the other one reproved him, saying, Do you
not even fear God, seeing you yourself are under the
‘ame sentence of condemnation and suftering the same
senalty?
41 And we indeed suffer it justly — receiving the due
reward of our actions; but this Man has done nothing out
Ε the way — nothing "strange or eccentric or perverse or
unreasonable.
42 Then he said to Jesus, Lord, remember ine when
You come Yin Your kingly glory!
43 And He answered him, Truly, 1 tell you, today
you shall be with Me in Paradise.
44 It was now about the sixth hour [midday], and
Vincent. ‘Literal meaning. 4Cremer
314 LUKE 23
darkness enveloped the whole land and earth until the
ninth hour [about three o'clock in the afternoon],
45 While the sun’s light faded — ‘was darkened; and
the curtain [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was
torn in two. [Ex. 26:31-35.]
46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said,
Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit! And with
these words He expired. [Ps. 31:5.]
47 Now the centurion, having seen what had taken
place, “recognized God and thanked and praised Him,
and said, Indeed, without question, this Man was up-
right — just and innocent!
48 And all the throngs that had gathered to see this
spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned
to their homes beating their breasts.
49 And all the acquaintances of [Jesus] and the
women who had followed Him from Galilee stood at a
distance and watched these things.
50 Now notice, there was a man named Joseph from
the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the
council [the Sanhedrin], and a good Cupright, 4advan-
tageous) man and righteous — in right standing with God
and man.
51 Who had not agreed with or assented to the
purpose and action of the others, and he was expecting
and waiting for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body
of Jesus.
53 Then he took it down and ‘rolled it up in a linen
¢Many ancient manuscripts so read. dCremer. *Young’s Concordance.
LUKE 24 315
cloth ‘for swathing dead bodies, and laid Him in a rock-
hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid.
54 It was the day of preparation [for the Sabbath],
and the Sabbath was dawning Capproaching).
55 ‘The women who had come with [Jesus] from
Galilee followed closely, and saw the tomb, and how
His body was laid;
56 ‘Then they went back, and made ready spices and
ointments (perfumes). On the Sabbath day they rested
in accordance with the commandment. [Ex. 12:16;
20:10.)
CHAPTER 24
Β΄ on the first day of the week at early dawn
[the women] went to the tomb, taking the spices
which they had made ready.
2 And they found the stone rolled back from the
tomb,
3 But when they went inside they did not find the
body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And while they were perplexed and wondering
what to do abvut this, behold, two men in dazzling
raiment suddenly stood beside them.
5 And as [the women] were frightened and were
bowing their faces to the ground, the men said to them,
Why do you look for the living among [those who are]
dead?
6 He is not here, but has risen! Remember how
He told you while He was still in Galilee,
7 ‘That the Son of man must be given over into the
fMoulton and Milligan.
316 LUKE 24
hands of sinful men [that is, men *whose way or nature
is to act in opposition to God], and be crucified, and on
the third day rise (*from death). [Ps. 16:10.]
8 And they remembered His words,
9 And having returned from the tomb they reported
all these things (taken together) to the eleven apostles
and to all the rest.
10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and
Mary the mother of James, and the other women with
them who reported these things to the apostles;
11 But these reports seemed to the men an idle tale
— madness, ‘feigned things, ‘nonsense — and they did
not believe the women.
12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, and
stooping down and looking in, he saw the linen cloths
alone by themselves, and [he] went away wondering
about and marveling at what had happened.
13 And behold, that very day two of [the disciples]
were going to a village called Emmaus, [which is] about
seven miles from Jerusalem,
14 And they were talking with each other about
all these things that had occurred.
15 And while they were conversing and discussing
together, Jesus Himself caught up with them and was
already accompanying them.
16 But their eyes were held, so that they did not
recognize Him.
17 And He said to them, What is this discussion
that you are exchanging (‘throwing back and forth) be-
«Cremer. bWycliffe. *Tyndale. 4Moulton and Milligan.
¢ Literal meaning.
LUKE 24 317
tween you as you walk along? And they stood still,
looking sad and downcast.
18 Then one of them named Cleopas answered Him,
Do you alone dwell as a stranger in Jerusalem and not
know the things that have occurred there in these days?
19 And He said to them, What (kind of) things?
And they said to Him, About Jesus of Nazareth, Who
was a Prophet mighty in work and word before God and
all the people,
20 And how our chief priests and rulers gave Him up
to be sentenced to death and crucified Him.
21 But we were hoping that it was He Who would
redeem and set Israel free. [Yes] and besides all this, it
is now the third day since these things occurred.
22 And moreover, some women of our company
astounded us and ‘drove us out of our senses. They were
at the tomb early [in the morning],
23 But did not find His body; and they returned
saying that they had [even] seen a vision of angels who
said that He was alive!
24 So some of those [who were] with us went to the
tomb, and they found it just as the women had said;
but Him they did not see.
25 And [Jesus] said to them, O foolish ones (sluggish
in mind, dull of perception) and slow of heart to believe
—to adhere to and trust in and rely on — everything
that the prophets have spoken!
26 Was it not necessary and ‘essentially fitting that
the Christ, the Messiah, should suffer all these things
eLiteral meaning. fVincent.
318 LUKE 24
before entering into His glory CHis majesty and
splendor)?
27 ‘Then beginning with Moses and (throughout) all
the prophets, He went on explaining avd interpreting
to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning and
referring to Himself.
28 ‘Then they drew near to the village to which they
were going; and He acted as if He would go further,
29 But they urged and insisted, saying to Him,
Remain with us, for it is toward evening and the day
is [now] far spent. So He went in to stay with them.
30 And it occurred that as He reclined at table with
them, He took [a loaf of] bread and praised [God] and
gave thanks and asked a blessing, then broke it and was
giving it to them,
31 When their eyes were [instantly] opened and
they (clearly) recognized Him; and He vanished (‘de-
parted invisibly).
32 And they said to one another, Was not our heart
greatly moved and burning within us while He was
talking with us on the road [and] as He opened and ex-
plained to us [the sense of] the Scriptures?
33 And rising up that very hour they went back to
Jerusalem, where they found the eleven [apostles] gath-
ered together and those who were with them,
34 Who said, The Lord really is risen, and has ap-
peared to Simon [Peter]!
35 Then they [themselves] ‘related in full what had
happened on the road, and how He was known and
recognized by them in the breaking of bread.
tVincent.
LUKE 24 319
36 Now while they were talking about this, Jesus
Himself took His stand among them and said to them,
Peace [that is, freedom from all the distresses that are
experienced as the result of sin] be to you!
37 But they were so startled and terrified that they
thought they saw a spirit.
38 And He said to them, Why are you disturbed and
troubled, and why do such doubts and questionings arise
in your hearts?
39 See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself;
feel of and handle Me and see, for a spirit does not
have flesh and bones as you see that I have.
40 And when He had said this, He showed them
His hands and [His] feet.
41 And while [since] they still could not believe it
for sheer joy, and marveled, He said to them, Have you
anything here to eat?
42 ‘They gave Him a piece of broiled fish,
43 And He took [it] and ate [it] before them.
44 Then He said to them, This is what I told you
while I was still with you, that everything which is
written concerning Me in the Law of Moses and the
prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.
45 Then He (thoroughly) opened up their minds to
understand the Scriptures,
46 And said to them, Thus it is written, that the
Christ, the Messiah, should suffer and on the third day
rise from (‘among) the dead, [Hos. 6:2.]
47 And that repentance [with a view to and as the
bCremer, ¢ Berry’s ‘‘New Testament.”
320 LUKE 24
condition of] forgiveness of sins should be preached in
His name to all nations. Beginning from Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 And behold, I will send forth upon you What
My Father has promised; but remain in the city [Jeru-
salem] until you are clothed with power from on high.
50 Then He conducted them out as far as Bethany,
and lifting up His hands He invoked a blessing on them.
51 And it occurred that while He was blessing them,
He parted from them and was taken up into heaven.
52 And they worshipping Him went back to Jeru-
salem with great joy,
53 And they were continually in the temple celebrat-
ing with praises and blessing and extolling God. Amen.
— So be it.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING
TO
JOHN
CHAPTER 1
N the beginning [before all time] was the Word
[®Christ], and the Word was with God, and the
Vord was God ’Himself. [Is. 9:6.]
2 He was present originally with God.
3 All things were made and came into existence
hrough Him; and without Him was not even one thing
rade that has come into being.
4 In Him was Life and the Life was the Light of
nen.
5 And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the
larkness has never overpowered it — put it out, or has
iot absorbed it, has not appropriated it, and is unrecep-
ive to it.
6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name
vas John. [Mal. 3:1.]
7 This man came to witness, that he might testify of
he Light, that all men might believe in it — adhere to
t, trust it and rely upon it — through him.
8 He was not the Light himself, but came that he
night bear witness regarding the Light.
9 There it was; the true Light [was then] coming
nto the world —the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light —
hat illumines every person. [ls. 49:6.]
10 He came into the world, and through the world
Rev. 19:13, 16, “His name is called The Word of God ... and Lord
of Lords.”
“God,” emphatic, so ““God Himself.” CWilliams’ N. T.)
321
322 JOHN 1
was made through Him, the world did not recognize
Him — did not know Him.
11 He came to that which belonged to Him, to His
own [domain, creation, things, world], and they who
were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome
Him.
12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him,
He gave the authority [power, privilege, right] to be-
come the children of God, that is, to those who believe
in — adhere to, trust in and rely on—His name; _ [Is.
56:5.]
13 Who owe their birth neither to ‘bloods, nor to
the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse], nor to
the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God.
— They are born of God!
14 And the Word [Christ] became flesh Chuman,
incarnate) and tabernacled — fixed His tent of flesh, lived
awhile — among us; and we [actually] saw His glory —
His honor, His majesty; such glory as an only begotten
son receives from his father, full of grace Cfavor, loving
kindness) and truth. [ls. 40:5.]
15 John testifed about Him and cried out, This is
He of Whom I said, He that comes after me has priority
over me, for He was before me — He takes rank above
me, for He existed before I did. [He has advanced be-
fore me, because He is my Chief].
16 For out of His fullness Cabundance) we all re-
ceived — all had a share and we were all supplied with
—one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon
¢ Literal translation.
JOHN 1 323
spiritual blessing, and even favor upon favor and gift
{heaped] upon gift.
17 For while the Law was given through Moses,
grace — “unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual bless-
ing — and truth came through Jesus Christ. [Ex. 20:1.]
18 No man has ever seen God at any time; the only
bunique Son, ‘the only-begotten God, Who is in the
bosom [that is, in the intimate presence] of the Father,
He has declared Him — He has revealed Him, brought
Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him,
and He has made Him known. [Prov. 8:30.]
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews
sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask
him, Who are you?
20 He confessed — admitted the truth and did not
try to conceal it, but acknowledged — I am not the Christ!
21 They asked him, What then? Are you Elijah?
And he said, I am not! Are you the prophet? And he
answered, No! [Mal. 4:5.]
22 Then they said to him, Who are you? ‘Tell us,
so that we may give an answer to them that sent us.
What do you say about yourself?
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying aloud in
the wilderness — the voice of one shouting in the desert
— Prepare the way of the Lord Clevel, straighten out,
the path of the Lord), as the prophet Isaiah said.
[Is. 40:3.]
24 ‘The messengers had been sent from the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him, Why then are you baptiz-
ing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?
εἰ Trench’s “Synonyms of the New Testament.”
b Moulton and Milligan’ s ‘Vocabulary of the Greek Testament.”
δ Supported by ‘‘a great mass of ancient evidence” (Vincent).
324 JOHN 1
26 John answered them, I [only] baptize *in Cwith)
water. Among you there stands One Whom you do not
recognize and with Whom you are not acquainted and
of Whom you know nothing. [Mal. 3:1.]
27 It is He Who coming after Me is preferred before
Me, the string of Whose sandal I am not worthy to
unloose.
28 These things occurred in Bethany (Bethabara)
across the Jordan [at the Jordan crossing] where John
was then baptizing.
29 ‘The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and
said, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away
the sin of the world! [Ex. 12:3; Is. 53:7.]
30 This is He of Whom I said, After me comes a
Man Who has priority over me — Who takes rank above
me — because He was before me and existed before I did.
31 And I did not know Him and did not recognize
Him [myself]; but it is in order that He should be made
manifest and be revealed to Israel — be brought out where
we can see Him—that I came baptizing *in Cwith)
water.
32 John gave further evidence, saying, I have seen
the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it
dwelt on Him — not to depart.
33 And I did not know Him nor recognize Him; but
He Who sent me to baptize *in Cwith) water said to me,
Upon Whom you shall see the Spirit descend and tre-
main, that One is He Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
® King James Version gives preference to ‘‘with,” the American ‘‘Revised”’
Version to “in.’’ Other versions are about ‘equally divided in use of
the two words. b Lamsa’s ‘“Modern New Testament.”
JOHN 1 325
34 And I have seen [that happen] —I actually did
see it— and my testimony is that this is the Son of God!
35 Again the next day John was standing with two
of his disciples,
36 And he looked at Jesus as He walked along and
said, Look! ‘There is the Lamb of God!
37 ‘The two disciples heard him say this, and fol-
lowed Him.
38 But Jesus turned and as He saw them following
Him He said to them, What are you looking for? And
what is it you wish? And they answered Him, Rabbi,
which translated is Teacher, where do You stay?
39 He said to them, Come and see. So they went
and saw where He was staying, and they remained with
Him "that day. It was then about the tenth hour — about
four o'clock in the afternoon.
40 One of the two who heard what Juhn said and
followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41 He first sought out and found his own brother
Simon and said to him, We have found (discovered) the
Messiah! which translated is the Christ, the Anointed
One.
42 Andrew then led (brought) Simon to Jesus. Jesus
looked at him and said, You are Simon the son of John.
You shall be called Cephas, which translated is Peter —
meaning Stone.
43 The next day Jesus desired and decided to go into
Galilee; and He found Philip and said to him, Join Me
as My attendant and follow Me.
bIn accordance with Oriental hospitality, the guests would be invited to
remain that night also. (Lamsa’s ‘Gospel Light.’’)
326 JOHN 2
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the same city
as Andrew and Peter,
45 Philip sought for and found Nathanael and told
him, We have found (discovered) the One Moses in the
Law and also the prophets wrote about, Jesus from
Nazareth, the [legal] son of Joseph!
46 Nathanael answered him, [Nazareth!] Can any
thing good come out of Nazareth? Philip replied, Come
and see!
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said
concerning him, See! Here is an Israelite indeed — a true
descendant of Jacob—in whom there is no guile nor
deceit nor falsehood nor duplicity!
48 Nathanael said to Jesus, How do You know me?
— How is it that You know these things about me? —
Jesus answered him, Before ever Philip called you, when
you were still under the fig tree, I saw you.
49 Nathanael answered, Teacher, You are the Son
of God! You are the King of Israel!
50 Jesus replied, Because I said to you, I saw you
beneath the fig tree, do you believe in and rely on and
trust in Me? You shall see greater things than this!
51 Then He said to him, I assure you, most solemnly
I tell you all, You shall see the heaven opened up, and
the angels of God ascending and descending upon the
Son of man! [Gen. 28:12; Dan. 7:13.]
CHAPTER 2
N the third day there was a wedding at Cana of
Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
2 Jesus also was invited with His disciples to the
wedding.
JOHN 2 327
3 And when the wine was all gone, the mother of
Jesus said to Him, They have no more wine!
4 Jesus said to her, (?Dear.)) woman, what is that to
you and to Me? [What have we in common? Leave
it to Me.] My time Chour to act) is not come yet.
[Eccles. 3:1.]
5 His mother said to the servants, Whatever He says
to you, do it.
6 Now there were six waterpots of stone standing
there, as the Jewish custom of purification (ceremonial
washing) demanded, holding twenty to thirty gallons
apiece,
7 Jesus said to them, Fill the waterpots with water.
So they filled them up to the brim.
8 Then He said to them, Draw some out now and
take it to the manager of the feast — to the one fuesid-
ing, the superintendent of the banquet. So they took
him some,
9 And when the manager tasted the water just now
turned into wine, not knowing where it came from,
though the servants that had drawn the water knew,
he called the bridegroom,
10 And said to him, Everyone else serves his best
wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then he
serves that which is not so good; but you have kept back
the good wine until now!
11 This first of His signs Cmiracles, wonderworks)
Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee and manifested His
glory — by it He displayed His greatness and His power
κ᾿ Abbott-Smith: “4 term of respect and endearment,”
328 JOHN 2
openly; and His disciples believed in Him — adhered to,
trusted in and relied on Him. [Deut. 5:24; Ps. 72:19.]
12 After that He went down to Capernaum with His
mother and brothers and disciples and they stayed there
only a few days.
13 Now the Passover of the Jews was approaching,
so Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 There He found in the temple "enclosure those
who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the
money changers sitting there [too at their stands].
15 And having made a lash (a whip) of cords, He
drove them all out of the temple "enclosure, both the
sheep and the oxen; spilling and scattering the brokers’
money and upsetting and tossing around their trays —
their stands.
16 ‘Then to them that sold the doves He said, Take
these things away — out of here! Make not My Father’s
house a house of merchandise —a market place, a sales
shop! [Ps. 93:5.]
17 And His disciples remembered that it is written
[in the Holy Scriptures], The zeal — the fervor of love
— for Your house will eat Me up. —I will be consumed
with jealousy for the honor of Your house. [Ps. 69:9.]
18 Then the Jews retorted, What sign can *You
show us, seeing You do these things? — What sign,
miracle, token, indication can You give us as evidence
that You have authority and are commissioned to act in
this way?
>» Trench’s ‘‘Synonyms of the New Testament.”
¢ Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speaker may have
thought He was.
JOHN 3 329
19 Jesus answered them, Destroy Cundo) this temple
and in three days I will raise it up again.
20 Then the Jews replied, It took forty-six years
to build this temple (sanctuary), and will You raise it
up in three days?
21 But He spoke of the temple which was His body.
22 When therefore He had risen from the dead, His
disciples remembered that He said this: and so they be-
lieved and trusted in and relied on the Scripture and the
word (message) Jesus had spoken. [Ps. 16:10.]
23 But when He was in Jerusalem during the Passover
Teast, many believed on His name [identified themselves
with His party] after seeing His signs (wonders, miracles )
which He was doing.
24 But Jesus [for His part] did not trust Himself
to them, because He knew all [men];
25 And He did not need that anyone should witness
concerning man — needed no evidence from anyone about
men; for He Himself knew what was in human nature.
[He could read men’s hearts]. [1 Sam. 16:7.]
CHAPTER 3
IN there was a certain man among the Phari-
sees named Nicodemus, a ruler—a leader, an
authority — among the Jews;
2 Who came to Jesus at night and said to Him,
Rabbi, we know and are certain that You are come from
God [as] a Teacher; for no one can do these signs —
these wonderworks, these miracles, and produce the
proofs — that You do, unless God is with him.
3 Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I
330 JOHN 3
tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from
above), he cannot ever see — know, be acquainted with
[and experience] — the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born
when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb again,
and be born?
5 Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell
you, Except a man be born of water and (*even) the
Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.
[Ezek. 36:25-27.]
6 What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh — of the
physical is physical; and what is born of the Spirit is
spirit.
7 Marvel not —do not be surprised, astonished — at
My telling you, You must all be born anew (from above).
8 ‘The wind blows (breathes) where it will; and
though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where
it comes from nor where it goes. So it is with every one
who is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered by asking, How can all this
be possible?
10 Jesus replied, Are you the teacher of Israel and
yet do not know nor understand these things? [Are
they strange to your]
11] I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, We speak
only of what we know — we know absolutely what we
are talking about; we have actually seen what we are
testifying to — were eyewitnesses of it. And still you do
not receive our testimony — you reject, refuse our evi-
® ‘Kai’? may be rendered “even’’.
JOHN 3 33]
ence [that of Myself and of all those who are born of
he Spirit}.
12 If] have told you of things that happen right here
n the earth, and yet none of you believes Me, how can
ou believe — trust Me, adhere to Me, rely on Me —if
tell you of heavenly things?
13 And yet no one has ever gone up to heaven; but
here is One Who has come down from heaven, the Son
f man [Ilimself], Who is — dwells, whose home is — in
leaven.
14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
lesert [on a pole], so must — so it is necessary that — the
son of man be lifted up [on the cross]; [Num. 21:9.]
15 In order that every one who believes in Him —
vho cleaves to Flim, trusts Him and relies on Him — may
wt perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live for-
ver!
16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the
world that He [even] gave up Flis only-begotten
‘Punigue) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts, clings
Ὁ, relics on.) Him shall not perish — come to destruction,
be lost — but have eternal Ceverlasting) life.
17 For God did not send the Son into the world in
order to judge — to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence
on — the world; but that the world might find salvation
and be made safe and sound — through Him.
18 He who believes on Him — who clings to, trusts
in, relics on Him — is not judged Che who trusts in Him
never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejec-
tion, no condemnation; he incurs no damnation). But
he who does not believe (ποῖ cleave to, rely on,
* Moulton and Milligan,
332 JOHN 3
trust in Him) is judged already; Che has already been
convicted; has already received his sentence.) because he
has not believed on and trusted in the name of the only
begotten Son of God. — He is condemned for refusing to
let his trust rest in Christ’s name.
19 The [basis of the] judgment Cindictment, the
test by which men are judged, the ground for the sen-
tence) lies in this: that the Light is come into the world,
and people have loved the darkness rather than and
more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil.
[Is. 5:20.]
20 For every wrongdoer hates Cloathes, detests) the
light and will not come out into the light, but shrinks
from it, lest his works — his deeds, his activities, his con-
duct — be exposed and reproved.
21 But he who practises truth — who does what is
right — comes out into the light; so that his works may
be plainly shown to be what they are, wrought with
God — divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in de-
pendence upon Him.
22 After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the
land (the countryside) of Judea, where He remained
with them and baptized.
23 But John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim,
for there was an abundance of water there; and the
people kept coming and being baptized.
24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25 ‘Therefore there arose a controversy between some
of John’s disciples and a Jew in regard to purification.
26 So they came to John and reported to him, Rabbi,
the Man Who was with you on the other side of the
JOHN 3 333
Jordan [*at the Jordan crossing], and to Whom you
yourself have borne testimony, notice, here He is bap-
tizing too, and everybody is Hocking to Him!
27 John answered, A man can receive nothing — he
can claim nothing, he can "take unto himself nothing —
except as it has been granted to him from heaven. [A
man must be content to receive the gift which is given
him from heaven; there is no other source. ]
28 You yourselves are my witnesses — you personally
bear me out — that I stated, I am not the Christ, the
Anointed One, the Messiah; but I have [only] been
sent before Him — in advance of Him, as His appointed
forerunner, His messenger, His announcer. [Mal. 3:1.]
29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the
groomsman, who stands by and listens to him, rejoices
greatly and heartily on account of the bridegroom’s voice.
This then is my pleasure and joy, and it is now complete.
fS.20loe 501.)
30 He must increase, but | must decrease — He must
grow more prominent, I must grow less so. [Is. 9:7.]
31 He Who comes from above Cheaven) is [far]
above all [others]. He who comes from the earth be-
longs to the earth, and talks the language of earth — his
words are from an earthly standpoint. He Who comes
from heaven is [far], above all others — far superior to
all others in prominence and in excellence.
32 It is to what He has [actually] seen and heard
that He bears testimony; and yet no one accepts His
testimony — no one receives His evidence as true.
« Lamsa’s New Testament. b Thayer.
334 JOHN 4
33 Whoever receives His testimony has set his seal
of approval to this: that God is true —has definitely
certified, acknowledged, declared once for all, is himself
assured that it is divine truth, that God cannot lie.
34 For since He Whom God has sent speaks the
words of God -— proclaims God’s own message — God
does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure,
but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit!
[Deut. 18:18.]
35 The Father loves the Son, and has given — en-
trusted, committed — everything into His hand. [Dan.
7:14.]
36 And he who believes on — has faith in, clings to,
relies on —the Son has (now possesses) eternal life.
But whoever disobeys — is unbelieving toward, refuses
to trust in, disregards, is not subject to—the Son will
never see (experience) life. But instead the wrath of
God abides on him — God’s displeasure remains on him;
His indignation hangs over him continually. [Hab. 2:4.]
CHAPTER 4
OW when the Lord knew (learned, was aware)
that the Pharisees had been told that Jesus was
winning and baptizing more disciples than John,
2 Though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His
disciples,
3 He left Judea and returned to Galilee.
4 It was necessary for Him to go through Samaria.
5 And in doing so He arrived at a Samaritan town
called Sychar, near the tract of land that Jacob gave to
his son Joseph.
JOHN 4 335
6 And Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, tired as He
was from Fis journey, sat down [to rest] by the well.
It was then about the sixth hour (about noon).
7 Presently when a woman of Samaria came along
to draw water, Jesus said to her, Give Me a drink.
8 For His disciples had gone off into the town to
buy food.
9 ‘The Samaritan woman said to Him, How is it that
hYou being a Jew ask me, a Samaritan [and a] woman,
for a drink? For the Jews have nothing to do with the
Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered her, If you had only known and
had recognized God's gift, and Who this is that is saying
to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him
instead and He would have given you living water.
11 She said to Him, Sir, "You have nothing to draw
with (no draw-bucket) and the well is deep; how then
can You provide living water?— Where do You get
Your living water?
12 Are You greater than and superior to our ancestor
Jacob, who gave us this well, and who used to drink from
it himself, and his sons and his cattle also?
13 Jesus answered her, All who drink of this water
will be thirsty again.
14 But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will
give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But
the water that I will give him shall become a spring of
water welling up (flowing, bubbling) continually within
him unto Cinto, for) eternal life.
b Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speaker may have
thought He was.
336 JOHN 4
15 The woman said to Him, Sir, give me this water,
so that J may never get thirsty, nor have to come [con-
tinually all the way] here to draw.
16 At this Jesus said to her, Go, call your husband
and come back here.
17 The woman answered, I have no husband. Jesus
said to her, You have spoken truly in saying, I have no
husband.
18 For you have had five husbands; but the man you
are now living with is not your husband. In this you
have spoken truly.
19 The woman said to Him, Sir, I see and under-
stand that You are a prophet.
20 Our forefathers worshipped on this mountain, but
you [Jews] say that Jerusalem is the place where it is
necessary and proper to worship.
21 Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, a time is
coming when you will worship the Father neither [mere-
ly] in this mountain nor [merely] in Jerusalem.
22 You [Samaritans] do not know what you are wor-
shipping — you worship what you do not comprehend.
We do know what we are worshipping — we worship
what we have knowledge of and understand; for [after
all] salvation comes from [among] the Jews.
23 A time will come, however, indeed it is already
here, when the true (genuine) worshippers will worship
the Father in spirit and in truth Creality); for the Father
is seeking just such people as these as His worshippers.
24 God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who
worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth
Creality).
JOHN 4 337
25 The woman said to Him, I know that Messiah is
coming, He Who is called the Christ, the Anointed One,
and when He arrives He will tell us everything we need
to know and make it clear to us.
26 Jesus said to her, 1 Who am now speaking with
you am He.
27 Just then His disciples came and they wondered
Cwere surprised, astonished) to find Him talking with
a woman [a married woman]. NHowever, not one of
them asked Him, What are You inquiring? or What do
You want? or, Why do You speak with her?
28 Then the woman left her water jar and went
away to the town. And she began telling the people,
29 Come, see a Man Who has told me everything
that I ever did! Can this be Cis not this) the Christ? —
Must not this be the Messiah, the Anointed One?
30 So the people left the town and set out to go to
Him.
31 Meanwhile the disciples urged Him saying,
Rabbi, eat something.
32 But He assured them, I have food Cnourishment)
to eat of which you know nothing and have no idea.
33 So the disciples said one to another, Has someone
brought Him something to eat?
34 Jesus said to them, My food (nourishment) is
to do the will Cpleasure) of Him Who sent Me and to
accomplish and completely finish His work.
35. Do you not say, It is still four months until har-
vest time comes? Look! I tell you, raise your eyes and
observe the helds and see how they are already white for
harvesting.
338 JOHN 4
36 Already the reaper is getting his wages — he who
does the cutting now has his reward — for he is gathering
fruit Ccrop) unto life eternal. So that he who does the
planting and he who does the reaping may rejoice to-
gether.
37 For in this the saying holds true, One sows and
another reaps.
38 J sent you to reap a crop on which you have not
toiled. Other men have labored and you step in to reap
the results of their work.
39 Now numerous Samaritans from that town be-
lieved on and trusted in Him because of what the woman
said when she declared and testified, He told me every-
thing that I ever did.
40 So when the Samaritans arrived, they asked Him
to remain with them, and He did stay there two days.
41 Then many more believed and adhered to and
relied on Him because of His personal message — what
He Himself said.
42 And they told the woman, Now we no longer be-
lieve (trust, have faith) just because of what you said;
for we have heard Him ourselves — personally; and we
know that He truly is the Savior of the world, the Christ.
43 But after these two days Jesus went on from there
into Galilee,
44 Although He Himself declared that a prophet has
no honor in his own country.
45 However, when He came into Galilee, the Gali-
leans also welcomed Him and took Him to their hearts
eagerly; for they had seen everything that He did in
JOHN 4 339
Jerusalem during the feast, for they too had attended
the feast.
46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where
He had turned the water into wine. And there was a
certain royal ofhcial, whose son was lying ill in Caper-
naum. |
47 Waving heard that Jesus had come back from
Judea into Galilee, he went away to meet Him and
began to beg Him to come down and cure his son, ἔοι
he was lying at the point of death.
48 Then Jesus said to him, Unless you see signs and
miracles happen, you [people] never will believe Ctrust,
have faith) at all.
49 The king’s officer pleaded with Him, Sir, do
come down at once before my little child is dead!
50 Jesus answered him, Go in peace; your son will
live! And the man put his trust in what Jesus said and
started home.
51 But even as he was on the road going down, his
servants met him and reported, saying, Your son lives!
52 80 he asked them at what time he had begun to
get better. They said, Yesterday during the seventh
hour [about one o'clock in the afternoon] the fever left
him.
53 Then the father knew that it was at that very
hour when Jesus had said to him, Your son lives. And
he and his entire household believed — they adhered to,
trusted in and relied on Jesus.
54 This is the second sign Cwonderwork, miracle)
that Jesus performed after He had come out of Judea
into Galilee.
340 JOHN 5
CHAPTER 5
ATER on there was a Jewish festival Cfeast), for
which Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem a pool near the Sheep
Gate. This pool in the Hebrew is called Bethesda, hav-
ing five porches (alcoves, colonnades, doorways).
3 In these lay a great number of sick folk, some blind,
some crippled and some paralyzed (shriveled up), wait-
ing for the bubbling up of the water.
5 There was a certain man there who had suffered
with a deep-seated and lingering disorder for thirty-eight
years.
6 When Jesus noticed him lying there helpless,
knowing that he had already been a long time in that
condition, He said to him, Do you want to become well?
[Are you really in earnest about getting well?]
7 The invalid answered, Sir, I have nobody when
the water is moving to put me into the pool; but while
I am trying to come myself, somebody else steps down
ahead of me.
8 Jesus said to him, Get up; pick up your bed (sleep-
ing pad) and walk!
9 Instantly the man became well and recovered his
strength and picked up his bed and walked. But that
happened on the Sabbath.
10 So the Jews kept saying to the man that had been
healed, It is the Sabbath and you have no right to pick
up your bed — it is not lawful.
4 The best manuscripts omit verse 4, as does the American ‘Revised’’
Version (ASV).
JOHN 5 34]
11 He answered them. The "Man Who healed me
and gave me back my strength, He Himself said to me,
Pick up your bed and walk!
12 They asked him, Who is the Man Who told you,
Pick up your bed and walk?
13 Now the invalid who had been healed did not
know Who it was, for Jesus had quietly gone away Chad
passed on unnoticed), since there was a crowd in the
place.
14 Afterward when Jesus found him in the temple,
He said to him, See, you are well! Stop sinning, or
something worse may happen to you.
15 The man went away and told the Jews that it
was Jesus Who had made him well.
16 For this reason the Jews began to persecute (an-
noy, torment.) Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He
was doing these things on the Sabbath.
17 But Jesus answered them, My Father has worked
feven] until now. — He has never ceased working, He
is still working — and I too must be at [divine] work.
18 This made the Jews more determined than ever
to kill Him — to make away with Him; because He not
only broke (weakened, violated) the Sabbath, but He
actually spoke of God as being [in a special sense] His
own Father, making Himself equal (putting Himself on
a level) with God.
19 So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure you,
most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing
from Himself — of His own accord; but He is able to do
> Capitalized because of what Fle is, not what the speaker may have
thought Fle was.
342 JOHN 5
only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the
Father does is what the Son does in the same way [in
His turn].
20 The Father dearly loves the Son and discloses
Cshows) to Him everything that He Himself does. And
He will disclose to Him — let Him see — greater things
yet than these, so that you may marvel and be full of
wonder and astonishment.
21 Just as the Father raises up the dead and gives
them life — makes them live on — so the Son also gives
life to whomever He wills and is pleased to give it.
22 Even the Father judges no one; for He has given
all judgment — the last judgment and the whole business
of judging — entirely into the hands of the Son;
23 So that all men may give honor (reverence, hom-
age) to the Son, just as they give honor to the Father.
[In Fact] whoever does not honor the Son, does not honor
the Father Who has sent Him.
24 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person
whose ears are open to My words — who listens to My
message — and believes and trusts in and clings to and
telies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now, eternal
life. And he does not come into judgment — does not
incur sentence of judgment, will not come under con-
demnation — but he has already passed over out of death
into life.
25 Believe Me when I assure you, most solemnly I
tell you, The time is coming and is here now when the
dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those
who hear it shall live.
JOHN 5 343
26 For even as the Father has life in Himself and is
self-existent, so He has given to the Son to have life in
ldimself and be self-existent.
27 And He has given Him authority and granted
Him power to execute (exercise, practise.) judgment,
because He is "a son of man [very man].
28 Do not be surprised and wonder at this; for the
time is coming when all those who are in the tombs shall
hear His voice,
29 And they shall come out; those who have prac-
tised doing good [will come out] to the resurrection of
[new] life; and those who have done evil will be raised
for judgment — raised to meet their sentence. [Dan.
12:2.)
30 I am able to do nothing from Myself — inde-
pendently, of My own accord; but as I am taught by God
and as | get His orders. [1 decide as I am bidden to
decide. As the voice comes to Me, so [ give a decision].
Even as | hear, [ judge and My judgment is right Cjust,
righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own
will — I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself,
My own aim, My own purpose — but only the will and
pleasure of the Father Who sent Me.
31 If I alone testify in My behalf, My testimony is
not valid and can not be worth anything.
32 There is Another Who testifies concerning Me and
I know and am certain that His evidence on My behalf
is true and valid.
33 You yourselves have sent an inquiry to John and
he has been a witness to the truth.
e Vincent’s ‘‘Word Studics in The New Testament.”
344 JOHN 5
34 But I do not receive [a mere] human witness —
the evidence which I accept on My behalf is not from
man. But I simply mention all these things in order
that you may be saved (made and kept safe and sound).
35 John was the lamp that kept on burning and
shining [to show you the way], and you were willing
for a while to delight (sun) yourselves in his light.
36 But I have as My witness something greater
Cweightier, higher, better) than that of John; for the
works that the Father has appointed Me to accomplish
and finish, the very same works that I am now doing,
are a witness and proof that the Father has sent Me.
37 And the Father Who sent Me has Himself testi-
fed concerning Me. Not one of you has ever given ears
to His voice, or seen His form CHis face, what He is
like). — You have always been deaf to His voice and
blind to the vision of Him.
38 And you have not His word CHis thought) living
in your hearts, because you do not believe and adhere to,
and trust in, and rely on Him Whom He has sent. —
That is why you do not keep His message living in you,
because you do not believe in the Messenger Whom He
has sent.
39 You search and investigate and pore over the
Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that
you have eternal life through them. And these [very
Scriptures] testify about Me!
40 And still you are not willing Cbut refuse) to
come to Me, so that you might have life.
41 11 receive not glory from men —1 crave no human
honor, I look for no mortal fame.
JOHN 6 345
42 But I know you and recognize and understand
that you have not the love of God in you.
43 I have come in My Father’s name and with His
power and you do not receive Me — your hearts are not
open to Me, you give Me no welcome. But if another
comes in his own name and his own power and with no
other authority but himself, you will receive him and
give him your approval.
44 How is it possible for you to believe — how can
you learn to believe — who [are content to seek for and]
receive praise and honor and glory from one another,
and do not seek the praise and honor and glory which
come from Him Who alone is God?
45 Put out of your minds the thought and do not
suppose [as some of you are supposing] that I will ac-
cuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you;
it is Moses, the very one on whom you have built your
hopes — in whom you trust.
46 For if you believed in and relied on Moses, you
would believe in and rely on Me, for he wrote about Me
[ personally].
47 But if you do not believe and trust his writings,
how then will you believe and trust My teachings — how
shall you cleave to and rely on My words?
CHAPTER 6
FTER this Jesus went to the farther side of the Sea
of Galilee, that is, the Sea of Tiberias.
2 And a great crowd was following Him because
they had seen the signs (miracles) which He [continual-
ly] performed upon those who were sick.
346 JOHN 6
3. And Jesus walked up the mountain side and sat
down there with His disciples.
4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was ap-
proaching.
5 Jesus looked up, then, and seeing that a vast multi-
tude was coming toward Him, He said to Philip, Where
are we to buy bread, so that all these people may eat?
6 But He said this to prove Ctest) him, for He well
knew what He was about to do.
7 Philip answered Him, Two hundred pennies’
[forty dollars’] worth of bread is not enough that every
one may receive even a little.
8 Another of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s
brother, said to Him,
9 There is a little boy here, who has [with him] ve
barley loaves and two small fish; but what are they among
so many people?
10 Jesus said, Make all the people recline (sit down).
Now the ground [a pasture] was covered with thick
grass at the spot, so the men threw themselves down,
about five thousand in number.
11 Jesus took the loaves and when He had given
thanks He distributed to the disciples and the disciples
to the reclining people; so also with the small fish, as
much as they wanted.
12 When they all had enough, He said to His dis-
ciples, Gather up now the fragments — the broken pieces
that are left over—so that nothing may be lost and
wasted.
13 So accordingly they gathered them up, and they
JOHN 6 347
filled twelve *hand baskets with fragments left over by
those who had eaten from the five barley loaves.
14 When the people saw the sign (miracle) that
Jesus had performed, they began saying, Surely and
beyond a doubt this is the prophet who is to come into
the world! [Deut. 18:18.]
15 Then Jesus, knowing that they meant to come
and seize Him that they might make Him king, with-
drew again to the hillside, Himself alone.
16 When evening came, His disciples went down to
the sea.
17 And they took a boat and were going across the
sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and still Jesus had
not [vet] come back to them.
18 Meanwhile the sea was getting rough and rising
high because of a great and violent wind that was
blowing.
19 [However,] when they had rowed three or four
miles they saw Jesus walking on the sea and approaching
the boat. And tliey were afraid — terrified.
20 But Jesus said to them, It is I; be not afraid! —I
AM; stop being frightened! [Ex. 3:14.]
21 Then they were quite willing and glad for Him
to come into the boat. And now the boat went at once
to the land they steered for—and immediately they
reached the shore toward which they had been [slowly]
making.
22 The next day the crowd [that still remained]
standing on the other side of the sea, realized that there
had been only one small boat there, and that Jesus had
® Abbort-Smith.
348 JOHN 6
not gone into it with His disciples, but that His disciples
had gone away by themselves.
23 But now some other boats from Tiberias had come
in near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord
had given thanks.
24 So the people, finding that neither Jesus nor His
disciples were there, themselves got into the small boats
and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
25 And when they found Him on the other side of
the lake, they said to Him, Rabbi! When did You come
here?
26 Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly
I tell you, you have been searching for Me not because
you saw the miracles and signs, but because you were
fed with the loaves and were filled and satished.
27 Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food
that perishes and decomposes in the using; but strive and
work and produce rather for the lasting food which en-
dures continually unto life eternal. The Son of man
will give (furnish) you that, for God the Father has
authorized and certifed Him and put His seal of en-
dorsement upon Him.
28 ‘They then said, What are we to do that we may
[habitually] be working the works of God? — What are
we to do to carry out what God requires?
29 Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God
asks of you, that you believe in the One Whom He has
sent — that you cleave to, trust, rely on and have faith in
His Messenger.
30 Therefore they said to Him, What sign (miracle,
JOHN 6 349
wonderwork)) will "You perform then, so that we may
see it and believe and rely on and adhere to Your — What
[supernatural] work have You to show what You can do?
31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness.
As the Scripture says, He gave them bread out of heaven
to eat. [Ex. 16:15; Ps. 78:24.]
32 Jesus then said to them, I assure you, I most
solemnly tell you, Moses did not give you the bread from
heaven — what Moses gave you was not the Bread from
heaven — but it is My Father Who gives you the true,
heavenly Bread.
33 For the Bread of God is He Who comes down
out of heaven and gives life to the world.
34 Then they said to Him, Lord, give us this bread
always — all the time!
35 Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who
comes to Me will never be hungry and he who believes
on and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me will
never thirst any more — at any time.
36 But [as] I told you, Although you have seen Me,
still you do not believe and trust and have faith.
37 ΑἹ! whom My Father has given Centrusted) to
Me will come to Me; and him who comes to Me I will
most certainly not cast out — I will never, no never reject
one of them who comes to Me.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do
My own will and purpose; but to do the will and purpose
of Him Who sent Me.
39 And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that
b Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speaker may have
tbought He was.
350 JOHN 6
I should not lose any of all that He has given Me; but
that I should give new life and raise [all] up at the last
day.
40 For this is My Father’s will and His purpose,
that every one who sees the Son and believes and cleaves
to and trusts and relies on Him should have eternal life,
and I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.
41 Now the Jews murmured and found fault and
grumbled about Jesus because He said, I am [Myself]
the Bread which came down from heaven.
42 They kept asking, Is not this Jesus, the "Son of
Joseph, Whose father and mother we know? How then
can He say, I have come down from heaven?
43 So Jesus answered them, Stop grumbling and say-
ing things against Me to one another.
44 No one is able to come to Me unless the Father
Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the
desire to come to Me; and [then] I will raise him [from
the dead] at the last day.
45 It is written in the book of the prophets, And
they shall all be taught of God — have Him in person
for their teacher. Every one, who has listened and
learned from the Father, comes to Me. [[5. 54:13.]
46 Which does not imply that any one has seen the
Father — not that any one has ever seen Him — except
He [Who was with the Father] Who comes from God.
He [alone] has seen the Father.
47 I assure you, I most solemnly tell you, he who
believes in Me — who adheres to, trusts in, relies on and
has faith in Me — has Cnow possesses, eternal life.
bCapitalized because of what He is, not what the speakers may have
thought He was.
JOHN 6 351
48 Iam the Bread of life — that gives life, the Living
Bread.
49 Your forcfathers ate the manna in the wilderness,
and [yet] they died.
50 [But] this is the Bread that comes down from
heaven, so that (any) one may eat of it and never die.
51 I [Myself] am this Living Bread which came
down from heaven. If any one eats of this Bread, he
will live forever; and also the Bread that I shall give for
the life of the world is My flesh Cbody).
52 Then the Jews angrily contended with one an-
other saying, Flow is He able to give us is flesh to eat?
53 And Jesus said to them, I assure you, most solemn-
ly I tell you, you cannot have any life in yourselves
unless you eat the Hesh of the Son of man and drink His
blood — unless you appropriate His life and [the saving
merit of] His blood.
54 He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood
has (possesses now) eternal life; and I will raise him up
[from the dead] on the last day.
55 For My flesh is true and genuine food; and My
blood is true and genuine drink.
56 He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood
dwells continually in Me, and I [in like manner dwell
continually] in him.
57 Just as the living Father sent Me, and I live by
(through, because of) the Father, even so whoever con-
tinues to feed on Me — who takes Me for his food and
is nourished by Me-— shall [in his turn] live through
and because of Me.
58 This is the Bread which came down from heaven.
352 JOHN 6
It is not like the manna which our forefathers ate and
yet died. He who takes this Bread for his food shall live
forever.
59 He said these things in a synagogue while He
was teaching at Capernaum.
60 When His disciples heard this, many of them said,
This is a hard and difficult and strange saying — an offen-
sive and unbearable message. Who can stand to hear
it? — Who can be expected to listen to such teaching?
61 But Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples
were complaining and protesting and grumbling about
it, said to them: Is this a stumbling block and an offense
to your — Does this upset and displease and shock and
scandalize your
62 What then [will be your reaction] if you should
see the Son of man ascending to the place where He
was before?
63 It is the Spirit that gives life — He is the Life-
giver; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever — there is
no proht in it. The words (truths) that I have been
speaking to you are spirit and life.
64 But [still] some of you fail to believe and trust
and. have faith. For Jesus knew from the first who did
not believe and had no faith, and who would betray Him
and be false to Him.
65 And He said, This is why I told you that no one
can come to Me unless it is granted him — unless he is
enabled to do so — by the Father.
66 After this many of His disciples drew back — re-
turned to their old associations — and no longer accom-
panied Him.
JOHN 7 353
67 Jesus said to the twelve, Will you also go away?
And do you too desire to leave Me?
68 Simon Peter answered, Lord, to whom shall we
go? You have the words (the message) of eternal life.
69 And we have learned to believe and trust; and
[more,] we have come to know [surely] that You are the
Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of the living God.
70 Jesus answered them, Did I not choose you, the
twelve? And [even] of you one is a devil — of the evil
one and a false accuser.
71 He was speaking of Judas, the son of Simon
Iscariot, for he was about to betray Him, [although] he
was one of the twelve.
CHAPTER 7
FTER this Jesus went from place to place in
Galilee; for He would not travel in Judea, because
the Jews sought to kill Him.
2 Now the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was drawing
near.
3. So His brothers said to Him, Leave here and go
into Judea, so that *Your disciples [there] may also see
the works that You do. [This is no place for You.]
4 For no one does anything in secret, when he wishes
to be conspicuous and secure publicity. If you [must]
do these things — if You must act like this — show Your-
self openly and make Yourself known to the world!
5 For His brothers did not believe in or adhere to or
trust in or rely on Him either.
4 Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speaker may have
thought He was.
354 JOHN 7
6 Whereupon Jesus said to them, My time Coppor-
tunity) has not come yet; but any time is suitable for
you and your opportunity is ready any time — is always
here.
7 The world cannot [be expected to] hate you, but
it does hate Me, because I denounce it for its wicked
works and reveal that its doings are evil.
8 Go to the feast yourselves. I am not [yet] going
up to the festival, because My time is not ripe — My
term is not yet completed, it is not time for Me to go.
9 Having said these things to them, He stayed be-
hind in Galilee.
10 But afterward, when His brothers had gone up
to the feast, He went up also; not publicly, [not with
a caravan] but by Himself quietly and as if He did not
wish to be observed.
11 Therefore the Jews kept looking for Him at the
feast and asking, Where can He be? — Where is that
Fellow?
12 And there was among the mass of the people much
whispered discussion and hot disputing about Him.
Some were saying, He is good! — He is a good man!
Others said, No, He misleads and deceives the people —
gives them false ideas!
13 But no one dared speak out boldly about Him for
fear of [the leaders of] the Jews.
14 When the feast was already half over, Jesus
went up into the temple "court and began to teach.
15 The Jews were astonished. They said, How is it
b Trench.
JOHN 7 355
that this Man has learning — is so versed in the sacred
Scriptures and in theology — when He has never studied?
16 Jesus answered them by saying, My teaching is
not My own, but His Who sent Me.
17 If any man desires to do His will (CGod’s
pleasure), he will know — have the needed illumination
to recognize, can tell for himself — whether the teaching
is from God, or whether I am speaking from Myself and
of My own accord and on My own authority.
18 He who speaks on his own authority seeks to
win honor for himself — he whose teaching originates
with himself seeks his own glory. But he who seeks the
glory and is eager for the honor of him who sent him,
he is true; and there is no unrighteousness or falsehood
or deception in him.
19 Did not Moses give you the Law? And yet not
one of you keeps the Law. [If that is the truth,] why
do you seek to kill Me [for not keeping it]?
20 ‘The crowd answered Him, You are possessed of
a demon! — You arc raving! Who seeks to kill You?
21 Jesus answered them, I did one work and you all
were astounded. [John 5:1-8.]
22 Now, Moses established circumcision among you,
though it did not originate with Moses but with previous
patriarchs, and you circumcise a person [even] on the
Sabbath day.
23 If to avoid breaking the Law of Moses a person
undergoes circumcision on the Sabbath day, have you
any cause to be angry with Cindignant with, bitter
against) Me for making a man’s whole body well on the
Sabbath?
356 JOHN 7
24 Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at
a glance — superficially and by appearances; but judge
fairly and righteously.
25 Then some of the Jerusalem people said, Is not
this the Man they seek to kill?
26 And here He is speaking openly, and they say
nothing to Him! Can it be possible that the rulers have
discovered and know that this is truly the Christ?
27 No, we know where this Man comes from; when
the Christ arrives, no one is to know from what place
He comes.
28 Whereupon Jesus called out as He taught in the
temple ‘porches, Do you know Me, and do you know
where I am from? I have not come on My own authority
and of My own accord and self-appointed, but the One
Who sent Me is true Creal, genuine, steadfast) and Him
you do not know!
29 I know Him [Myself], because I come from His
[very] presence, and it was He [personally] Who sent
Me.
30 Therefore they were eager to arrest Him; but no
one laid a hand on Him, for His hour (time) had not
yet come.
31 And besides, many of the multitude believed in
Him — adhered to Him, trusted Him, relied on Him.
And they kept saying, When the Christ comes, will He
do — can He be expected to do — more miracles and pro-
duce more proofs and signs than what this Man has
done?
32 The Pharisees learned how the people said these
© Trench.
JOHN 7 357
things about Him under their breath, and the chief
priests and Pharisees sent (attendants, guards) to arrest
Him.
33 Therefore Jesus said, For a little while I am
[still] with you, and then I go back to Him Who sent Me.
34 You will look for Me, but you will not be able to
find Me; where I am you cannot come.
35 Then the Jews said among themselves, Where
can this Man intend to go, that we shall not fnd Him?
Will He go to the Jews that are scattered in the Disper-
sion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?
36 What does this statement of His mean, You will
look for Me and not be able to fnd Me, and, Where I
am you cannot come?
37 Now on the final and most important day of the
feast, Jesus stood forth and He cricd in a loud voice, If
any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!
38 He who believes in Me—who cleaves to and
trusts in and relies on Me —as the Scripture has said,
Out from his innermost being springs and rivers of liv-
ing water shall flow (continuously).
39 But He was speaking here of the Spirit, Whom
those who believed — trusted, had faith —in Him were
afterward to receive. For the CHoly) Spirit had not
vet been given; because Jesus was not yet glorified
(raised to honor).
40 Listening to those words, some of the multitude
said, This is certainly and beyond doubt the prophet!
[Deut. 18:18.]
41 Others said, This is the Christ, the Anointed One!
358 JOHN 7
But some said, What? Does the Christ come out of
Galilee?
42 Does not the Scripture tell us that the Christ is
to come from the offspring of David, and from Bethle-
hem, the village where David lived? [Ps. 89:3, 4;
Mic. 5:2.]
43 So there arose a division and dissension among
the people concerning Him.
44 Some of them wanted to arrest Him, but no one
[ventured and] laid hands on Him.
45 Meanwhile the attendants (guards) had gone
back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them,
Why have you not brought Him here with you?
46 The attendants replied, Never has a man talked
as this Man talks! —- No mere man has ever spoken as
He speaks!
47 ‘The Pharisees said to them, Are you also deluded
and led astray? — Are you also swept off your feet?
48 Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees
believed in Him?
49 As for this multitude (rabble) that does not know
the Law, they are contemptible and doomed and ac-
cursed!
50 ‘Then Nicodemus, who came to Jesus before at
night and was one of them, asked,
51 Does our Law convict a man without giving him
a hearing and finding out what he has done?
52 ‘They answered him, Are you too from Galilee?
Search [the Scriptures yourself] and you will see
JOHN 8 359
that no prophet comes — will rise to prominence — from
Galilee.
53 “And they went [back], each to his own house.
CHAPTER 8
UT Jesus went to the mount of Olives.
2 Early in the morning, at dawn, He came back
into the temple ‘court and the people came to Him in
crowds. He sat down and was teaching them,
3 When the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery. They made her stand
in the middle of the court and put the case before Him.
4 Teacher, they said, this woman has been caught
in the very act of adultery.
5 Now Moses in the Law commanded us that such
[women, offenders] shall be stoned to death. But what
do You say [to do with her]? — What is Your sentence?
[Deut. 22:22-24.]
6 This they said to try (test) Him, hoping they might
find a charge for which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped
down and wrote on the ground with His finger.
7 However, when they persisted with their question,
He raised Himself up and said, Let him who is without
sin among you be the frst to throw a stone at her.
8 Then He bent down and went on writing on the
ground with His finger.
9 They listened to Him and then they began going
out conscience-stricken one by one, from the oldest down
4 John 7:53 to 8:11 is not found in the older manuscripts, but it sounds
so like Christ that we accept it as authentic, and feel that to omit it
would be most unfortunate.
° Trench,
360 JOHN 8
to the last one of them, till Jesus was left alone with the
woman standing there before Him in the center of the
court.
10 When Jesus raised up He said to her, Woman,
where are your accusers? Has no man condemned your
11 She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I
do not condemn you either. Go on your way, and from
now on sin no more.
12 Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said,
I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will
not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light
which is Life.
13 Whereupon the Pharisees told Him, You are tes-
tifying on Your own behalf; Your testimony is not valid
and is worthless.
14 Jesus answered, Even if I do testify on My own
behalf, My testimony is true and reliable and valid; for I
know where I came from and where I am going; but you
do not know where I came from or where I am going.
15 You [set yourselves up to] judge according to the
flesh — by what you see; you condemn by external,
human standards. I do not [set Myself up to] judge or
condemn or sentence anyone.
16 Yet even if I do judge, My judgment is true —
My decision is right; for I am not alone [in making it],
but [there are two of Us], I and the Father Who sent
Me.
17 In your [own] Law it is written that the testi-
mony (evidence) of two persons is reliable and valid.
[Ὁ δὺς. 19:15.]
18 I am one [of the Two] bearing testimony con-
JOHN 8 36]
cerning Myself, and My Father Who sent Me, He also
testihes about Me.
19 Then they said to Him, Where is this 'Father of
Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little
as you know Me. If you knew Me, you would know
My Father also.
20 Jesus said these things in the treasury, while He
was teaching in the temple ™court; but no one ventured
to arrest Him, because His hour had not yet come.
21 ‘Therefore He said again to them, I am going
away, and you will be looking for Me, but you will die
in [under the curse of} your sin. Where I am going,
it is not possible for you to come.
22 At this the Jews began to ask among themselves,
Will He kill Himself? Is that why He says, Where I
am going it is not possible for you to come?
232 He said to them, You are from below; I am from
above. You are of this world — of this earthly order. I
am not of this world.
24 ‘That is why I told you that you will die [under
the curse of] your sins. For if you do not believe that
I am He [Who 1 claim to be] — if you do not adhere
to, trust in and rely on Me — you will die in your sins.
25 Then they said to Him, Who are You anyway?
Jesus replied, ?Why do I even speak to you! I am exactly
what I have been telling you from the frst.
26 I have much to say about you and to judge and
condemn. But He Who sent Me is true, and 1 tell the
world [only] the things that I have heard from Him.
1 Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speaker may have
thought [le was. m Trench. ® Alternate reading.
362 JOHN 8
27 They did not perceive (know, understand) that
He was speaking to them of the Father.
28 So Jesus added, When you have lifted up the
Son of man [on the cross], you will realize (know, under-
stand) that I am He [for Whom you look]; and that I
do nothing from Myself — of My own accord, or on My
own authority — but I say [exactly] what My Father has
taught Me.
29 And He Who sent Me is ever with Me; My
Father has not left Me alone, for I always do what
pleases Him.
30 As He said these things, many believed on Him
— trusted, relied on and adhered to Him.
31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in
Him, If you abide in My Word — hold fast to My teach-
ings and live in accordance with them — you are truly
My disciples.
32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will
set you Free.
33 ‘They answered Him, We are Abraham's offspring
(descendants) and have never been in bondage to any-
body. What do You mean by saying, You will be set
free?
34 Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly
I tell you, Whoever commits and practises sin is the slave
of sin.
35 Now a slave does not remain in a household per-
manently (forever); the son [of the house] does remain
forever.
36 So if the Son liberates you — makes you free men
— then you are really and unquestionably free.
JOHN 8 363
37 [Yes] I know that you are Abraham's offspring;
yet you plan to kill Me, because My word has no en-
trance — makes no progress, does not find any place — in
you.
38 I tell the things which I have heard and learned
at My Father’s side, and your actions also reflect what
you have heard and learned from your father.
39 They retorted, Abraham is our father. Jesus said,
If you were truly Abraham’s children, then you would
do the works of Abraham — you would follow his exam-
ple, do as Abraham did.
40 But now [instead] you are wanting and seeking
to kill Me, a Man Who has told you the truth which I
have heard from God. This is not the way Abraham did.
41 You do the works of your father. They said to
Him, We are not illegitimate children and born of forni-
cation; we have one Father, even God.
42 Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you
would love Me and respect Me and welcome Me gladly;
for 1 proceeded (came forth) from God —out of His
very presence. I did not even come on My own authority
or of My own accord (self-appointed), but He sent Me.
43 Why do you misunderstand what [ say? It is
because you are unable to hear what I am saying — you
cannot bear to listen to My message, your ears are shut
to My teaching.
44 You are of your father the devil; and it is your
will to practise the lusts and gratify the desires [which
are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer
from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, be-
cause there is no truth in him. When he speaks a fFalse-
364 JOHN 8
hood, he speaks what is natural to him; for he is a liar
[himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false.
45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe
Με — do not trust Me, do not rely on Me or adhere to
Me.
46 Who of you convicts Me of wrongdoing or finds
Me guilty of sin? Then if I speak truth, why do you
not believe Me — trust Me, rely on and adhere to Me?
47 Whoever is of God listens to God. — Those who
belong to God hear the words of God. This is the reason
that you do not listen [to them, to Me], because you do
not belong to and are not of God or in harmony with
God.
48 The Jews answered Him, Are we not right when
we say you are a Samaritan, and that you have a demon
— that you are under the power of an evil spirit?
49 Jesus answered, I am not possessed by a demon.
On the other hand, I honor and reverence My Father,
and you dishonor — despise, vilify and scorn — Me.
50 However, I am not in search of honor for Myself
—I do not seek and am not aiming for My own glory.
There is One Who [looks after that; He] seeks [My
glory] and He is the Judge.
51 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone
observes My teaching — lives in accordance with My
message, keeps My word — he will by no means ever see
and experience death.
52 The Jews said to Him, Now we know that ‘You
4 Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speaker may have
thought He was.
JOHN 8 365
are under the power of a demon (‘insane). Abraham
died and also the prophets; yet You say, If a man keeps
My word he will never taste of death to all eternity.
53 Are You greater than our father Abraham? He
died and all the prophets died!) Who do You make
Yourself out to be?
54 Jesus answered, If I were to glorify Myself Gmag-
nify, praise and honor Myself) I should have no real
glory, for My glory would be nothing and worthless.
— My honor must come to Me from My Father. It is
My Father Who glorifies Me — Who extols Me, magnifies
and praises Me — of Whom you say that He is your God.
55 Yet you do not know Him nor recognize Him and
are not acquainted with Him, but I know Him. If I
should say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar
like you. But I know Him and keep His word — obey
His teachings, am faithful to His message.
56 Your forefather Abraham was extremely happy at
the hope and prospect of seeing My day [My incarna-
tion]. And he did see it and was delighted. [Heb.
11:13.]
57 Then the Jews said to Him, You are not yet fifty
years old, and have You seen Abraham?
58 Jesus replied, I assure you, I most solemnly tell
you, before Abraham was [born], J AM. [Ex. 3:14.]
59 So they took up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus
by mixing with the crowd concealed Himself and went
out of the temple ‘enclosure.
* Thayer. f Trench.
366 JOHN 9
CHAPTER 9
S He passed along, He noticed a man blind from
his birth.
2 His disciples asked Him, Rabbi, who sinned, this
man or his parents, that he should be born blind?
3 Jesus answered, It was not that this man or his
parents sinned; but he was born blind in order that the
workings of God should be manifested — displayed and
illustrated — in him.
4 We must work the works of Him Who sent Me,
and be busy with His business while it is daylight; night
is coming on when no man can work.
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the world’s
Light.
6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground
and made clay (mud) with His saliva, and He spread
it [as ointment] on the man’s eyes.
7 And He said to him, Go, wash in the pool of
Siloam, which means Sent. So he went and washed and
came back seeing.
8 When the neighbors and those who used to know
him by sight as a beggar saw him, they said, Is not this
the man who used to sit and beg?
9 Some said, It is he. Others said, No, but he looks
very much like him. But he said, Yes, I am the man.
10 So they said to him, How were your eyes opened?
1] He replied, The Man called Jesus made mud and
smeared it on my eyes and said to me, Go to Siloam and
wash. So I went and washed, and I obtained my sight!
12 They asked him, Where is He? He said, I do
not know.
JOHN 9 367
13 Then they conducted the man who had formerly
been blind to the Pharisees.
14 Now it was on the Sabbath day that Jesus mixed
the mud and opened the man’s eyes.
15 So now again the Pharisees asked him how he
received his sight. And he said to them, He smeared
mud on my eyes and I washed and now I see.
16 Then some of the Pharisees said, This Man
[Jesus] is not from God, because He does not observe
the Sabbath. But others said, How can a man who is
a sinner — a bad man — do such signs and miracles? So
there was a difference of opinion among them.
17 Accordingly they said to the blind man again,
What do you say about Him, seeing that He opened your
eyes? And he said, He is — He must be — a prophet!
18 However the Jews did not believe that he had
really been blind and that he had received his sight until
they called (summoned) the parents of the man.
19 They asked them, Is this your son, whom you
reported as having been born blind? How then does he
see now?
20 His parents answered, We know that this is our
son, and that he was born blind.
21 But as to how he can now see, we do not know;
or who has opened his eyes we do not know. He is of
age, ask him — let him speak for himself and give his
own account of it.
22 His parents said this because they feared [the
leaders of] the Jews. For the Jews had already agreed
that if anyone should acknowledge Jesus to be the Christ,
he should be expelled and excluded from the synagogue.
368 JOHN 9
23 On that account his parents said, He is of age,
ask him.
24 So the second time they summoned the man who
had been born blind, and said to him, Now give God
the glory (praise). This *Fellow we know is only a
sinner — a wicked person.
25 Then he answered, I do not know whether He
is a sinner and wicked or not. But one thing I know,
that whereas I was blind before, now I see.
26 So they said to him, What did He [actually] do
to your How did He open your eyes?
27 He answered, I already told you, and you would
not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Can it
be that you wish to become His disciples also?
28 And they stormed at him—they jeered, they
sneered, they reviled him — and retorted, You are His
disciple yourself, but we are the disciples of Moses.
29 We know for certain that God spoke with Moses,
but as for this Fellow, we know nothing about where He
hails from.
30 ‘The man replied, Well, this is astonishing! Here
a Man has opened my eyes, and yet you do not know
where He comes from — that is amazing!
31 We know that God does not listen to sinners; but
if anyone is God-fearing and a worshipper of Him and
does His will, He listens to him.
32 Since the beginning of time it was never heard of
that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind.
33 If that Man were not from God, He would not
be able to do anything like this.
4 Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speaker may have
thought He was.
JOHN 10 369
34 They retorted, You were wholly born in sin —
from head to foot —and do you [presume to] teach us?
So they cast him out—threw him clear outside the
synagogue.
35 Jesus heard that they had put him out, and meet-
ing him He said, Do you believe in and adhere to the
Son of man — "the Son of God?
36 16 answered, Who is He, Sir? Tell me, that |
may believe in and adhere to Him.
37 Jesus said to him, You have seen Him; [in fact]
He is talking to you right now.
38 He called out, Lord, I believe —I rely on, I trust.
I cleave to You! And he worshipped Him.
39 Then Jesus said, I came into this world for judg-
ment — as a Separator, in order that there may be sepa-
ration [between those who believe on Me and those who
reject Me] —to make the sightless see, and that those
who see may become blind.
40 Some Pharisces who were near, hearing this re-
mark said to | Jim, Are we also blind?
41 Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would
have no sin; but because you now claim to have sight,
your sin remains. —If you were blind, you would not
be guilty of sin; but because you insist, We do see
[clearly], you are unable to escape your guilt.
CHAPTER 10
ASSURE you, most solemnly I tell you, He who
I does not enter in by the door into the sheepfold, but
climbs up some other way (elsewhere, from some other
quarter) is a thief and a robber.
κα Many ancient authorities read ‘‘the Son of God.” b Vincent.
370 JOHN 10
2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of
the sheep.
3 The watchman opens the door for this man, and
the sheep listen to his voice and heed it, and he calls his
own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out.
4 When he has brought his own sheep outside, he
walks on before them, and the sheep follow him, because
they know his voice.
5 They will never [on any account] follow a
stranger, but will run away from him, because they do
not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call.
6 Jesus used this parable Cillustration) with them,
but they did not understand what He was talking about.
7 So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I
tell you, that I Myself am the Door >for the sheep,
8 All others who came [as such] before Me are
thieves and robbers; but the [true] sheep did not listen
and obey them.
9 Iam the Door. Anyone, who enters in through
Me will be saved — will live; he will come in and he will
go out [freely], and will find pasture.
10 The thief comes only in order that he may steal
and may kill and may destroy. I came that they may
have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance — to the
full, till it “overflows.
11 1 am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd
risks and lays down his [own] life for the sheep. [Ps
23. ]
12 But the hired servant — he who merely serves for
wages — who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of
® Souter’s “Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament.” b Vincent.
JOHN 10 371
the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming deserts the flock
and runs away. And the wolf chases and snatches them
and scatters [the flock].
13 Now the hireling flees because he merely serves
for wages and is not himself concerned about the sheep
— cares nothing for them.
14 1] am the Good Shepherd and I know and recog-
nize My own, and My own know and recognize Me,
15 Even as [truly as] the Father knows Me I also
know the Father; and I am giving My [very own] life
and laying it down in behalf of the sheep.
16 And I have other sheep [beside these], that are
not of this fold. I must bring and impel those also,
and they will listen to My voice and heed My call, and
0 there will be [they will become] one flock under one
Shepherd. [Ezek. 34:23.]
17 For this the Father loves Me, because I lay down
My [own] life to take it back again.
18 No one takes it away from Me. On the contrary,
_ lay it down voluntarily —I put it from Myself. I am
.uthorized and have power to lay it down — to resign it;
ind I am authorized and have power to take it back
iain. hese are the instructions Corders,)) which I have
eceived [as My charge] from My Father.
19 Then a fresh division of opinion arose among the
ews because of His saying these things.
20 And many of them said, He has a demon and
Je is mad — insane, He raves, He rambles. Why do
‘ou listen to Him?
21 Others argued, These are not the thoughts and
372 JOHN 10
the language of one possessed. Can a demon-possessed
person open blind eyes?
22 After this the Feast of Dedication, [of the recon-
secration of the temple] was taking place at Jerusalem.
23 It was winter, and Jesus was walking in Solomon's
porch in the temple area.
24 So the Jews surrounded Him and began asking
Him, How long are You going to keep us in doubt and
suspense? If You are really Christ, tell us so plainly and
openly.
25 Jesus answered them, I have told you so, yet you
do not believe Me — you do not trust Me and rely on
Me. The very works that I do by the power of Mv
Father and in My Father’s name bear witness concerning
Me — they are My credentials and evidence in support
of Me.
26 But you do not believe and trust and rely on Me,
because you do not belong to My fold — you are no sheep
of Mine.
27 ‘The sheep that are My own hear and are listen-
ing to My voice, and I know them and they follow Me,
28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never
lose it or perish throughout the ages —to all eternity
they shall never by any means be destroyed. And no
one is able to snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater
and mightier than all else; and no one is able to snatch
[them] out of the Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are One.
31 Again the Jews "brought up stones to stone Him.
‘* Vincent.
JOHN 10 373
32 Jesus said to them, My Father has enabled Me
to do many good deeds —I have shown many acts of
mercy in your presence. For which of these do you
mean to stone Me?
33. The Jews replied, We are not going to stone You
for a good act, but for blasphemy; because You, a mere
man, make Yourself [out to be] God.
34 Jesus answered, Is it not written in your Law, I
said, Ye are gods? [Ps. 82:6.]
35. So men are called gods — by the Law — men to
whom God's message came, and the Scripture cannot be
set aside or cancelled or broken or annulled. [If that is
true] do you say [to Me],
36 The One Whom the Father consecrated and
dedicated and set apart for Himself and sent into the
world, You are blaspheming, because I said, 1 am the
Son of God?
37 If I am not doing the works (performing the
deeds) of My Father, then do not believe Me — do not
adhere to Me and trust in and rely on Me.
38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe
Me nor have faith in Me, [at least] believe the works
and have faith in what I do, in order that you may know
and understand [clearly] that the Father is in Me and
I am in the Father — One with Him.
39 They sought again to arrest Him, but He escaped
from their hands.
40 He went back again across the Jordan to the
locality where John was when he first baptized, and
there He remained.
41 And many came to Him, and they kept saying,
374 JOHN 11
John did not perform a [single] sign or miracle, but
everything John said of this Man was true.
42 And many [people] there became believers on
Him — they adhered to and trusted in and relied on Him.
CHAPTER 11
N OW a certain man named Lazarus was ill. He was
of Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister
Martha lived.
2 ‘This Mary was the one who anointed the Lord
with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair. It was
her brother Lazarus who was [now] sick.
3. So the sisters sent to Him saying, Lord, he whom
You love [so well] is sick.
4 When Jesus received the message He said, This
sickness is not to end in death; but [on the contrary] it
is to honor God and to promote His glory, that the Son
of God may be glorified through Cby) it.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and
Lazarus; [they were His dear friends and He held them
in loving esteem].
6 Therefore, [even] when He heard that Lazarus
was sick, He still stayed two days longer in the same place
where He was.
7 Then, after that interval He said to His disciples,
Let us go back again to Judea.
8 The disciples said to Him, Rabbi, the Jews only
recently were intending and trying to stone You, and
are You [thinking of] going back there again?
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the
JOHN 11 375
day? Anyone who walks about in the daytime does not
stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
10 But if anyone walks about in the night, he does
stumble, because there is no light in him — the light is
lacking to him.
11 He said these things and then added, Our friend
Lazarus is at rest and sleeping, but I am going there that
I may awaken him out of his sleep.
12 The disciples answered, Lord, if he is sleeping, he
will recover.
13 However, Jesus had spoken of his death, but they
thought that He referred to falling into a refreshing and
natural sleep.
14 So then Jesus told them plainly, Lazarus is dead;
15 And for your sake I am glad that I was not there;
it will help you to believe —to trust and rely on Me.
However, let us go to him.
16 Then Thomas, who was called the Twin, said
to his fellow disciples, Let us go too, that we may die
[be killed] along with Him.
17 So when Jesus arrived, He found that he
[Lazarus] had already been in the tomb four days.
18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two
miles away.
19 And a considerable number of the Jews had gone
out to see Martha and Mary to console them concerning
their brother.
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she
went to meet Him, while Mary remained sitting in the
house.
376 JOHN 11
21 Martha then-said to Jesus, Master, if You had
been here, my brother would not have died.
22 And even now I know that whatever You ask
from God He will grant it to You.
23 Jesus said to her, Your brother shall rise again.
24 Martha replied, I know that he will rise again
at the resurrection in the last day.
25 Jesus said to her, I am [Myself] the Resurrection
and the Life. Whoever believes in — adheres to, trusts
in and relies on — Me, although he may die, yet he shall
live.
26 And whoever continues to live and believes —
has faith in, cleaves to and relies —on Me shall never
factually,] die at all. Do you believe this?
27 She said to Him, Yes, Lord, I have believed — I
do believe —that You are the Messiah, the Anointed
One, the Son of God, [even He] Who was to come into
the world. [It is for Your coming that the world has
waited].
28 After she had said this, she went back and called
her sister Mary, privately whispering to her, he Teacher
is close at hand and is asking for you.
29 When she heard this she sprang up quickly and
went to Him.
30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but
was still at the same spot where Martha had met Him.
31 When the Jews who were sitting with her in the
house and consoling her, saw how hastily Mary had
arisen and gone out, thev followed her, supposing that
she was going to the tomb to pour out her grief there.
32 When Mary came to the place where Jesus was
JOHN 11 377
and saw Him, she dropped down at His feet, saying to
ITim, Lord, if You had been here My brother would not
have died.
33 When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who
came with her [also] sobbing, He was deeply moved in
spirit and troubled — He chafed in spirit, and sighed and
was disturbed.
34 And He said, Where have you laid him? They
said to Him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.
36 The Jews said, See how tenderly He loved him!
37 But some of them said, Could not He, Who
opened a blind man’s eyes, have prevented this man
from dying?
38 Now Jesus again sighing repeatedly and deeply
disquieted, approached the tomb. It was a cave —a hole
in the rock — and a boulder lay against [the entrance to
close] it.
39 Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the
sister of the dead man, exclaimed, But Lord, by this time
he [is decaying and] throws off an offensive odor, for
he has been dead four days!
40 Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you and #promise
vou that if you would believe and rely on Me, you should
see the glory of God?
41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted
up His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that You have
heard Me. |
42. Yes, I know You always hear and listen to Me;
but I have said this on account of and for the benefit of
4 Williams.
378 JOHN ΤΊ
the people standing around, so that they may believe
You did send Me—that You have made Me Your
Messenger.
43 When He had said this, He shouted with a loud
voice, Lazarus, come out!
44 And out walked the man who had been dead,
his hands and feet wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips),
and with a [burial] napkin bound around his face.
Jesus said to them, Free him of the burial wrappings and
let him go.
45 Upon seeing what Jesus had done, many of the
Jews who had come with Mary believed on Him — they
trusted in Him and adhered to Him and relied on Him.
46 But some of them went back to the Pharisees and
told them what Jesus had done.
47 So the chief priests and Pharisees called a meet-
ing of the council [the Sanhedrin] and said, What are
we todo? For this Man performs many signs (evidences,
miracles ).
48 If we let Him alone to go on like this, everyone
will believe in Him and adhere to Him, and the Romans
will come and suppress and destroy and take away our
[holy] place and our nation [4our temple and city, and
our civil organization].
49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was the high
priest that year, declared, You know nothing at all.
50 Nor do you understand or reason out that it is
expedient and better for your own welfare that one man
should die on behalf of the people than that the whole
nation should perish (be destroyed, ruined).
4 Vincent: “Word Studies in the New Testament.”
JOHN 12 379
51 Now he did not say this simply of his own accord
— he was not self-moved; but being the high priest that
year, he prophesied that Jesus was to die for the nation.
[15. 53:8.]
52 And not only for the nation, but for the purpose
of uniting into one body the children of God who have
been scattered far and wide. [Is. 49:6.]
53 80 from that day on they took counsel and plotted
together how they might put Him to death.
54 For that reason Jesus no longer appeared publicly
among the Jews, but left there and retired to the district
that borders on the wilderness (the desert), to a village
called Ephraim, and there He stayed with the disciples.
55 Now the Jewish Passover was at hand, and many
from the country went up to Jerusalem in order that they
might purify and consecrate themselves before the Pass-
over.
56 So they kept looking for Jesus and questioned
among themselves as they were standing about in the
temple farea, What do you think? Will He not come
to the feast at all?
57 Now the chief priests and Pharisees had given
orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should
report it to them, so that they might arrest Him.
CHAPTER 12
5° six days before the Passover Feast Jesus came to
Bethany where Lazarus was, who had died and
vhom He had raised from the dead.
Trench.
380 JOHN 12
2 So they made Him a supper, and Martha served,
but Lazarus was one of those at the table with Him.
3 Mary took a pound of ointment of pure liquid.
nard [a rare perfume] that was very expensive, and she
poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair.
And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of
the perfume.
4 But Judas Iscariot, the one of His disciples who -
was about to betray Him, said,
5 Why was this perfume not sold for *three hundred
denarii, and that given to the poor — the destitute?
6 Now he did not say this because he cared for the
poor, but because he was a thief and having the bag.
[the money box, the purse of the twelve], he took for
himself what was put into it — pilfering the collections.
7 But Jesus said, Let her alone. It was that she
might keep it for the time of My preparation for burial
— she has kept it that she might have it for the time of
My "embalming.
8 You always have the poor with you, but you do
not always have Me.
9 Now a great crowd of the Jews heard that He was
at Bethany, and they came there — not only because of
Jesus, but that they also might see Lazarus whom He
had raised from the dead.
10 So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to
death also,
11 Because on account of him many of the Jews
were going away — were withdrawing and leaving [the
Judeans] — and believing in and adhering to Jesus.
« The wages of an ordinary workman for a whole year. b Vincent.
JOHN 12 381
12 The next day a vast crowd of those who had come
to the Passover Feast heard that Jesus was coming to
Jerusalem.
13 So they took branches of palm trees and went
out to meet Him. And as they went they kept shouting,
Hosanna! Blessed is He and praise to Him Who comes
in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel! [Ps.
118:26.]
14. And Jesus, having found a young donkey, rode
upon it, [just] as it is written in the Scriptures,
15 Do not fear, O daughter of Zion! Look! Your
King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt! [Zech. 9:9.]
16 His disciples did not understand and could not
comprehend the meaning of these things at first, but
when Jesus was glorified awd exalted, they remembered
that these things had been written about Him and had
been done to Him.
17 The group that had been with Jesus when He
called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from
among the dead, kept telling it to others — bearing wit-
ness.
18 It was for this reason that the crowd went out
to meet Him, because they had heard that He had per-
formed this sign (proof, miracle).
19 ‘Then the Pharisees said among themselves, You
see how futile your efforts are and how you accomplish
nothing. See! The whole world is running after Him!
20 Now among those who went up to worship at
the feast were some Grecks.
2] These came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in
382 JOHN 12
Galilee, and they made this request, Sir, we desire to
see Jesus.
22 Philip came and told Andrew. Then Andrew
and Philip together [went] and told Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, The time has come for
the Son of man to be glorified and exalted.
24 I assure you, most solemnly [1 tell you, Unless a
grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains
[just one grain; never becomes more but lives] by itself
alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields
a rich harvest.
25 Any one who loves his life loses it. But anyone
who hates his Jife in this world will keep it to life eternal.
— Whoever has no love for, no concern for, no regard
for his life here on the earth, but despises it, preserves
his life forever and ever.
26 If anyone would serve Me, he must continue to
follow Me — "to cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly
to My example, in Jiving and if need be in dying — and
wherever I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone
serves Me, the Father will honor him.
27 Now My soul is troubled and distressed, and
what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour [of
trial and agony]? But it was for this very purpose that
I have come to this hour [that I might undergo it].
28 [Rather, I will say,] Father, glorify — honor and
extol] — Your own name! ‘Then there came a voice out
of heaven saying, I have already glorified it, and I will
glorify it again.
29 The crowd of bystanders heard the sound and
Ὁ Thayer.
JOHN 12 383
said that it had thundered. Others said, An angel has
spoken to Him!
30 Jesus answered, This voice has not come for My
sake, but for your sake.
31 Now the judgment Ccrisis) of this world is [com-
ing on] — sentence is now being passed on this world.
Now the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world shall
be cast out — expelled.
32 And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth
[on the cross], will draw and attract all men [Gentile
as well as Jew] to Myself.
33 He said this to signify in what manner He would
die.
34 At this the people answered Him, We have
learned from the Law that the Christ is to remain for-
ever. How then can You say, The Son of man must be
lifted up [on the cross]? Who is this Son of man?
[Ps. 110:4.]
35 So Jesus said to them, You will have the Light
mnly a little while longer. Walk while you have the
Light — keep on living by it — so that darkness may not
yvertake and overcome you. He who walks about in
‘he dark does not know where he goes — he is drifting.
36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light
~ have faith in it, hold to it, rely on it— that you may
secome sons of the Light and be filled with light. Jesus
said these things and then He went away and hid Him-
‘elf from them — was lost to their view.
37 Even though He had done so many miracles be-
‘ore them — right before their eyes — yet they still did
jot trust in Him and failed to believe on Him.
384 JOHN 12
38 So that what Isaiah the prophet said was fulfilled,
Lord, who has believed our report and our message? And
to whom has the arm (the power) of the Lord been
shown — unveiled and revealed? [Is. 53:1.]
39 Therefore, they could not believe—they were
unable to believe. For Isaiah has also said,
40 He has blinded their eyes, and hardened and be-
numbed their [callous, degenerated] heart — He has
made their minds dull — to keep them from seeing with
their eyes and understanding with their heart and mind
and repenting and turning to Me to heal them.
41 Isaiah said this because he saw His glory and
spoke of Him. [Is. 6:9, 10.]
42, And yet [in spite of all this] many even of the
leading men —of the authorities and the nobles — be-
lieved and trusted in Him. But because of the Pharisees
they did not confess it, for fear [that if they should
acknowledge Him] they would be expelled from the
synagogue.
43 For they loved the approval and the praise and
the glory that come from men [instead of and] more
than the glory that comes from God. — They valued their
credit with men more than their credit with God.
44 But Jesus loudly declared, The one who believes
on Me, does not [only] believe on and trust in and rely
on Me, but [in believing on Me he believes] on Him
Who sent Me.
45 And whoever sees Me sees Him Who sent Me.
46 I have come a light into the world, so that who-
ever believes on Me — who cleaves to and trusts in and
relies on Me — may not continue to live in darkness.
JOHN 13 385
47 If any one hears My teachings and fails to observe
them — does not keep them, but disregards them — it is
not I who judges him. For I have not come to judge and
to condemn and to pass sentence and to inflict penalty
on the world, but to save the world.
48 Any one who rejects Me and persistently sets Me
at naught, refusing to accept My teachings, has his judge
[however]; for the [very] message that I have spoken
will itself judge and convict him on the last day.
49 This is because I have never spoken on My own
authority or of My own accord or self-appointed, but the
Father Who has sent Me has Himself given Me orders
what to say and what to tell. [Deut. 18:18, 19.]
50 And I know that His commandment is (means, )
eternal life. So whatever I speak, I am saying [exactly]
what My Father has told Me to say avd in accordance
with His instructions.
CHAPTER 13
: OW ] before the Passover Feast began, Jesus knew
Cwas fully aware) that the time had come for
Him to leave this world and return to the Father. And
as He had loved those who were His own in the world,
He loved them to the last and *to the highest degree.
2 So during supper, Satan having already put the
thought of betraying Jesus in the heart of Judas Iscariot,
Simon’s son,
3 Jesus, knowing Cfully aware) that the Father had
put everything into His hands, and that He had come
from God and was [now] returning to God,
« Chrysostom.
386 JOHN 13
4 Got up from supper, took off His garments and
taking a [servant’s] towel, He fastened it around His
waist.
5 ‘Then He poured water into the washbasin and
began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with
the [servant’s] towel with which He was girded.
6 When He came to Simon Peter, [Peter] said to
Him, Lord, are my feet to be washed by You? — Is it for
You to wash my feet?
7 Jesus said to him, You do not understand now
what I am doing, but you will understand later on.
8 Peter said to Him, You shall never wash my feet!
Jesus answered him, Unless I wash you, you have no part
with [°in] Me—no share in companionship with Me.
9 Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, [wash] not only
my feet, but my hands and my head, too!
10 Jesus said to him, Any one who is bathed needs
not to wash except his feet, but is clean all over. And
you [My disciples] are clean, but not all of you.
11 For He knew who was going to betray Him; that
was the reason He said, You are not all of you clean.
12 So when He had finished washing their feet and
had put on His garments and had sat down again, He
said to them, Do you understand what I have done to
your
13 You call Me the Teacher (Master) and the Lord,
and you are right in doing so, for that is what I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have
washed your feet, you ought — it is your duty, you are
under obligation, you owe it — to wash one another’s feet.
eRe Adam Clarke, and others. cf. John 15:3-7, noticing “in Me.
e...in Me...,” concerning the same subject, the same evening.
JOHN 13 387
15 For I have given you this as an example, so that
you should do [in your turn] what I have done to you.
16 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, A servant
is not greater than his master, and no one who is sent
is superior to the one who sent him.
17 If you know these things, blessed and happy and
*to be envied are you if you practise them — if you act
accordingly and really do them.
18 I am not speaking of and I do not mean all of
you. I know whom 1 have chosen; but that the Scripture
may be fulfilled, He who eats ["his] bread with Me has
raised up his heel against Me. [Ps. 41:9.]
19 I tell you this now before it occurs, so that when
it does take place you may be persuaded and believe that
Ι am He — what I say I am, the Christ, the Anointed
One, the Messiah.
20 I assure you, most solemnly 1 tell you, He who
receives and welcomes and takes into his heart any mes-
senger of Minc, receives Me [in just that way]; and he
who receives and welcomes and takes Me into his heart,
receives Him Who sent Me [in that same way].
21 After Jesus had said these things, He was troubled
(disturbed, agitated) in spirit, and said, I assure you,
most solemnly I tell you that one of you will deliver Me
up — be false to Me and betray Me!
22 The disciples kept looking at one another, puzzled
as to whom He could mean.
23 One of His disciples whom Jesus loved — whom
He esteemed and delighted in — was reclining [next to
Him] on Jesus’ bosom.
8 Souter’s ‘‘Pocket Lexicon of the Greek New Testament. »
b Many ancient authorities read “his bread with Me.
388 JOHN 13
24 So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask of whom
He was speaking.
25 ‘Then leaning back against Jesus’ breast, he asked
Him, Lord, who is it?
26 Jesus answered, It is the one to whom I am going
to give this morsel Cbit) of food after I have dipped it.
So when He had dipped the morsel of bread [into the
dish], He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son.
27 ‘Then, after [he had taken] the bit of food, Satan
entered into and took possession of [Judas]. Jesus said
to him, What you are going to do, do [*more swiftly than
you seem to intend] avd *make quick work of it.
28 But nobody reclining at the table knew why He
spoke to him, or what He meant by telling him this.
29 Some thought that since Judas had the money
box (the purse), Jesus was telling him, Buy what we
need for the festival, or that he should give something
to the poor.
30 So, after receiving the bit of bread, he went out
immediately. And it was night.
31 When he had left, Jesus said, Now is the Son
of man glorified! —- Now He has achieved His glory, His
honor, His exaltation; and God has been glorihed through
and in Him.
32 And if God is glorifed through avd in Him, God
will also glorify Him in Himself; and He will glorify
Him at once and not delay.
33 [Dear] little children, I am to be with you only
a little longer. You will look for Me and, as I told the
¢ Thayer: ‘‘Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament—Grimm.”
4 Williams: ‘‘New Testament in the Language of the People.”
JOHN 14 389
Jews [so I tell you now], you are not able to come where
I am going.
34 I give you a new commandment, that you should
love one another; just as I have loved you, so you too
should love one another.
35 By this shall all [men] know that you are My
disciples, if you love one another — if you keep on show-
ing love among yourselves.
36 Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, where are You
going? Jesus answered, You are not able to follow Me
now where I am going; but you shall follow Me after-
wards.
37 Peter said to Him, Lord, why cannot I follow You
now? I will lay down my life for You.
38 Jesus answered, Will you lay down your life for
Me? I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Before a
rooster crows you will deny Me — completely disown Me
— three times.
CHAPTER 14
Ο not let your hearts be troubled (distressed,
agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust
in and rely on God, believe in and adhere to and trust in
and rely also on Me.
2 In My Father's house there are many dwelling
places Chomes). If it were not so, I would have told you,
for | am going away to prepare a place for you.
3 And when Cif) I go and make ready a place for
you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself,
that where I am you may be also.
4 And [to the place] where I am going you know
the way.
390 JOHN 14
5 Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where
You are going, so how can we know the way?
6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth
and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by
(through) Me.
7 [ΙΕ you had known Me — had learned to recognize
Me — you would also have known My Father. From
now on you know Him and have seen Him.
8 Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father —
cause us to see the Father, that is all we ask; then we
shall be satisfied.
9 Jesus replied, Have I been with all of you for so
long a time and do you not recognize and know Me yet,
Philip? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.
How can you say then, Show us the Father?
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and
that the Father is in Me? What I am telling you I do
not say on My own authority and of My own accord,
but the Father Who lives continually in Me does the
works — His miracles, His own deeds of power.
11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father
in Me; or else believe Me for the sake of the [very]
works themselves. —If you cannot trust Me, at least
let these works that I do in My Father’s name convince
you.
12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone
steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do
the things that I do; and he will do even greater things
than these, because I go to the Father.
b Several ancient authonities read ‘‘His works.”
JOHN 14 391
13. And I will do—I Myself will grant — whatever
vou may ask in My name [‘presenting all I AM] so
that the Father may be glorified avd extolled in [through]
the Son. [Ex. 3:14.]
14 [Yes] I will grant — will do for you — whatever
you shall ask in My name [‘presenting all I AM].
15 If you [really] love Me you will keep Cobey)
My commands.
16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you
another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Ad-
vocate, Strengthener and Standby) that He may remain
with you forever,
17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot
receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not
see Him, nor know amd recognize Him. But you know
and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly]
and will be in you.
18 I will not leave you orphans — comfortless, deso-
late, bereaved, forlorn, helpless —I will come [back] to
vou.
19 Just a little while now and the world will not
see Me any more, but you will see Me; because I live,
you will live also.
20 At that time —when that day comes— you will
know [for yourselves] that I am in My Father, and you
[are] in Me, and I [am] in you.
21 ‘The person who has My commands and keeps
them is the one who [really] loves Me, and whoever
[really] loves Me will be loved by My Father. And I
[too] will love him and will show Creveal, manifest)
¢ Cremer.
392 JOHN 14
Myself to him —I will let Myself be clearly seen by him
and make Myself real to him.
22 Judas, not Iscariot, asked Him, Lord, how is it
that You will reveal Yourself — make Yourself real — to
us and not to the world?
23 Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he
will keep My word — obey My teaching; and My Father
will love him, and We will come to him and make Our
home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.
24 Anyone who does not [really] love Me does not
observe and obey My teaching. And the teaching which
vou hear and heed is not Mine, but [comes] from the
Father Who sent Me.
25 I have told you these things while I am still with
you.
26 But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Interces-
sor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit,
Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place,
to represent Me and act on My behalf] He will teach
you all things. And He will cause you to recall — will
remind you of, bring to your remembrance — everything
I have told you.
27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now
give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I
give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither
let it be afraid — stop allowing yourselves to be agitated
and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful
and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.
28 You heard Me tell you, I am going away, and 1
am coming [back] to you. If you [really] loved Me,
JOHN 15 393
you would have been glad because I am going to the
T-ather; for the Father is greater and mightier than I am.
29 And now I have told you [this] before it occurs,
so that when it does take place you may believe and
have faith in and rely on Me.
30 I will not talk with you much more, for the prince
Cevil genius, ruler) of the world is coming. And he
has no claim on Me — he has nothing in common with
Me, there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, he has
no power over Me.
31 But [fSatan is coming and] J do as the Father has
commanded Me, so that the world may know (be con-
vinced) that I love the Father, and that I do only what
the Father has instructed Me to do. — I act in full agree-
ment with His orders. Rise, let us go away from here.
CHAPTER 15
AM the True Vine and My Father is the Vine-
dresser.
2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit — that
stops bearing — He cuts away Ctrims off, takes away).
And He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch
that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and
richer and more excellent fruit.
3 You are cleansed and pruned already, because of
the Word which I have given you — the teachings I have
discussed with you.
4 Dwell in Me and I will dwell in you. — Live in
Me and I will live in you. Just as no branch can bear
f Vincent.
394 JOHN 15
fruit of itself without abiding in (vitally united to) the
vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.
5 Iam the Vine, you are the branches. Whoever
lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit.
However, apart from Me — cut off from vital union with
Me — you can do nothing.
6 If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown
out as a [broken-off] branch and withers. Such branches
are gathered up and thrown into the fire and they are
burned.
7 If you live in Me — abide vitally united to Me —
and My words remain in you and continue to live in your
hearts, ask whatever you will and it shall be done for you.
8 When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father
is honored and glorified; and you show and prove your-
selves to be true followers of Mine.
9 I have loved you [just] as the Father has loved
Me; abide in My love — ®continue in His love with Me.
10 If you keep My commandments — if you continue
to obey My instructions — you will abide in My love
and live on in it; just as I have obeyed My Father’s com-
mandments and live on in His love.
11 I have told you these things that My joy and de-
light may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may
be full measure and complete and overflowing.
12 This is My commandment, that you love one an-
other [just] as I have loved you.
13 No one has greater love—no one has shown
stronger affection — than to lay down (give up) his own
life for his friends.
® Cremer’s “Biblico-Theological Lexicon.”
JOHN 15 395
14 You are My friends, if you keep on doing the
things which I command you to do.
15 I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer,
for the servant does not know what his master is doing
Cworking out). But I have called you My friends, be-
cause I have made known to you everything that I have
heard from My Father —I have revealed to you every-
thing that I have learned from Him.
16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you
—I have appointed you, I have planted you —that you
might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing; that your
fruit may be lasting (that it may remain, abide). So that
whatever you ask the Father in My name [as "presenting
all that 1 AM] He may give it to you.
17 This is what I command you, that you love one
another.
18 If the world hates you, know that it hated Me
before it hated you.
19 If you belonged to the world, the world would
treat you with affection and would love you as its own.
But because you are not of the world — are no longer
one with it— but I have chosen (selected) you out of
the world, the world hates Cdetests)) you.
20 Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater
than his master —is not superior to him. If they per-
secuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept
My word and obeyed My teachings, they will also keep
and obey yours.
21 But they will do all this to you — inflict all this
suffering on you — because of [your bearing] My name,
Ὁ Cremer.
396 JOHN 16
and on My account, for they do not know or understand
the One Who sent Me.
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would
not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for
their sin.
23 Whoever hates Me also hates My Father.
24 If I had not done (accomplished) among them
the works which no one else ever did, they would not
be guilty of sin — would be blameless. But [the fact is]
now they have both seen [these works] and have hated
both Me and My Father.
25 But [this is so] that the word written in their
Law might be fulfilled, They hated Me without a cause.
[Ps. 35:19; 69:4.]
26 But when the Comforter CCounselor, Helper,
Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) Whom I
will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth
Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself]
will testify regarding Me.
27 But you also will testify and be My witnesses,
because you have been with Me from the beginning.
CHAPTER 16
HAVE told you all these things so that you should
not be offended — taken unawares and falter, or be
caused to stumble and fal] away, and to keep you from
being scandalized and repelled.
2 They will put you out of the synagogues — expel
you. But an hour is coming when whoever kills you will
think and claim that he has offered service to God.
JOHN 16 397
3. And they will do this because they have not known
the Father nor Me.
4 But I have told you these things now so that when
they occur you will remember that I told you of them.
I did not say these things to you from the beginning,
because I was with you.
5 But now I am going to Him Who sent Me; yet
none of you asks Me, Where are You going?
6 But because I have said these things to you sorrow
has filled your hearts—taken complete possession of
them.
7 However, I am telling you nothing but the truth
when [ say, it is prohtable — good, expedient, advan-
tagcous — for you that I go away. Because if I do not
go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate,
Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you
— into close fellowship with you. But if I go away, I
will send Tim to you —to be in close fellowship with
you.
8 And when He comes, He will convict and con-
vince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin
and about righteousness — uprightness of heart and right
standing with God —and about judgment.
9 About sin, because they do not believe on Me —
trust in, rely on and adhere to Me.
10 About righteousness — uprightness of heart and
tight standing with God — because I go to My Father
and you will see Me no Icnger.
11 About judgment, because the ruler Cprince) of
this world [Satan] is judged and condemned and sen-
tence already is passed upon him.
398 JOHN 16
12 I have still many things to say to you, but you are
not able to bear them nor to take them upon you nor to
grasp them now.
13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth Cthe truth-
giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the truth
— the whole, full truth. For He will not speak His own
message — on His own authority — but He will tell what-
ever He hears [from the Father]. He will give the
message that has been given to Him, and He will an-
nounce and declare to you the things that are to come —
that will happen in the future.
14 He will honor and glorify Me, because He will
take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will re-
veal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.
15 Everything that the Father has is Mine. ‘That is
what I meant when I said that He will take the things
that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit)
them to you.
16 In a little while you will no longer see Me, and
again after a short while you will see Me.
17 So some of His disciples questioned among them-
selves, What does He mean when He tells us, A little
while and you will no longer see Me, and again after a
short while you will see Me, and, Because I go to My
Father?
18 What does He mean by a little while? We do
not know nor understand what He is talking about.
19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask Him, so He
said to them, Are you wondering and inquiring among
yourselves what I meant when I said, In a little while
JOHN 16 399
you will see Me no longer, and again after a short while
you will see Me?
20 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that you
shall weep and grieve, but the world will rejoice. You
will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into
Joy.
21 A woman, when she gives birth to a child has
grief Canguish, agony), because her time has come. But
when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remem-
bers her pain (trouble, anguish), because she is so glad
that a man (a child, a human being) has been born into
the world.
22 So for the present you are also in sorrow —in
distress and depressed. But I will see you again and
[then] your hearts will rejoice, and no one can take from
you your joy (gladness, delight).
23 And when that time comes, you will ask nothing
of Me — you will need to ask Me no questions. I assure
you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant
you whatever you ask in My namc {?presenting all I
AM]. [Ex. 3:14.]
24 Up to this time, you have not asked a [single]
thing in My name [that is, "presenting all I AM] [but
now] ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so
that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and
complete.
25 I have told you these things in parables (veiled
language, allegories, dark sayings). The hour is now
coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures
b Cremer,
400 JOHN 16
of speech, but I shall tell you about the Father in plain
words and openly — without reserve.
26 At that time you will ask Cpray) in My name,
and I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your
behalf [for it will be unnecessary].
27 For the Father Himself tenderly loves you, be-
cause you have loved Me, and have believed that I came
out from the Father.
28 I came out from the Father and have come into
the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to
the Father.
29 His disciples said, Ah, now You are speaking
plainly to us, and not in parables — not in veiled language
and figures of speech!
30 Now we know that You are acquainted with
everything and have no need to be asked questions. Be-
cause of this, we believe that you [really] came from
God.
31 Jesus answered them, Do you now believe — do
you believe it at last?
32 But take notice, the hour is coming and it has
arrived, when you will all be dispersed and scattered
every man to his own home, leaving Me alone. Yet I
am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
33 I have told you these things so that in Me you
may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world
you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustra-
tion; but be of good cheer — take courage, be confident,
certain, undaunted — for I have overcome the world. — I
have deprived it of power to harm, have conquered it
[for you].
JOHN 17 401
CHAPTER 17
HEN Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted
up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour
is come. Glorify and exalt and honor and magnify Your
Son, so that Your Son may glorify and extol and honor
and magnify You.
2 Just as You have granted Him power and authority
over all flesh Call human kind), now glorify Him, so that
He may give eternal life to all whom You have given
Him.
3. And this is eternal life: [it means] to know Cto
perceive, recognize, become acquainted with and under-
stand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise]
to know Flim, Jesus [as the] Christ, the Anointed One,
the Messiah, whom you have sent.
4 I have glorified You down here on the earth by
completing the work that You gave Me to do.
5 And now, Father, glorify Me along with Yourself
and restore Me to such majesty and honor in Your pres-
ence as I had with You before the world existed.
6 I have manifested Your name—I have revealed
Your very Self, Your real Self —to the people whom
You have given Me out of the world. ‘They were Yours,
and You gave them to Me, and they have obeyed and
kept Your Word.
7 Now [at last] they know and understand that all
You have given Me belongs to You — is really and truly
Yours.
8 For the uttered words that You gave Me I have
given them. And they have received and accepted
[them], and have come to know positively and in reality
402 JOHN 17
— to believe with absolute assurance — that I came forth
from Your presence. And they have believed and are
convinced that You did send Me.
9 1 am praying for them. I am not praying Cre
questing) for the world; but for those You have given
Me, for they belong to You.
10 All Mine are Yours, and all that are Yours belong
to Me; and I am glorified in (through) them — they have
done Me honor, in them My glory is achieved.
11 And [now] I am no more in the world, but these
are in the world and I am coming to You. Holy Father,
keep in Your name [‘in the knowledge of Yourself]
them whom You have given Me, that they may be one,
as We [are one].
12 While I was with them, I kept and preserved
them in Your name [‘in the knowledge and worship of
You]. Those You have given Me I guarded and pro-
tected, and not one of them has perished or is lost except
the son of perdition [Judas Iscariot] the one who is
now doomed to destruction, destined to be lost — that
the Scripture might be fulfilled. [Ps. 41:9; Jno. 6:70.]
13 And now I am coming to You. I say these things
while I am still in the world, so that My joy may be
made full and complete and perfect in them — that they
may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My
enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they
may have My gladness within them filling their hearts.
14 I have given and delivered to them Your Word
(message); and the world has hated them, because they
¢ Barnes’ “Notes on Luke and John.”
JOHN 17 403
are not of the world —do not belong to the world —
[just] as I am not of the world.
15 I do not ask that You will take them out of the
world, but that You will keep and protect them from
the evil [one].
16 ‘They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to
the world), [just] as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them — purify, consecrate, separate them
for Yourself, make them holy —by the Truth. Your
Word is Truth.
18 Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have
sent them into the world.
19 And so for their sake and on their behalf I sancti-
fy (dedicate, consecrate.) Myself, that they also may be
sanctified Cdedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the
Truth.
20 Neither for these alone do I pray —it is not for
their sake only that I make this request — but also for
all those who will ever come to believe (trust, cling to,
rely on) Me through their word and teaching.
21 So that they all may be one [just] as You, Father,
are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in
Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that
You have sent Me.
22 Ihave given to them the glory and honor which
You have given Me, that they may be one, [even] as
We are one:
23 I in them and You in Me, in order that they may
xecome one and perfectly united, that the world may
cnow and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me, and
hat You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.
404 JOHN 18
24 Father, I desire that they also whom You have
entrusted to Me [Your gift to Me,] may be with Me
where I am, so that they may see My glory, which you
have given Me — Your love gift to Me —for You loved
Me before the foundation of the world.
25 O just and righteous Father, although the world
has not known You and has failed to recognize You and
has never acknowledged You, I have known You con-
tinually. And these men understand and know that
You have sent Me.
26 I made Your name known to them and revealed
Your character and Your very *Self, and I will continue
to make [You] known, that the love which You have
bestowed upon Me may be in them — felt in their hearts
—and that I [Myself] may be in them.
CHAPTER 18
AVING said these things, Jesus went out with His
disciples beyond (across) the winter torrent of
the Kidron Cin the Ravine of the Cedars). ‘There was
a garden there, which He and His disciples entered.
2 And Judas, who was betraying Him and delivering
Him up, also knew the place, because Jesus had often
retired there with His disciples.
3. So Judas, obtaining and taking charge of the band
of soldiers and some guards (attendants) of the high
priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns and
torches and weapons.
4 Then Jesus, knowing all that was about to befall
* Thayer.
JOHN 18 405
Him, went out to them and said, Whom are you seek-
ing — Whom do you want?
5 ‘They answered Him, Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus
said to them, I am He. Judas, who was betraying Him,
was also standing with them.
6 When Jesus said to them, I am He, they went
backwards — drew back, lurched backward — and fel} to
the ground.
7 ‘Then again He asked them, Whom are you seek-
ing? And they said, Jesus the Nazarene.
8 Jesus answered, I told you that I am He. So, if
you want Me — if it is only I for Whom you are looking
— let these men go their way.
9 Thus what He had said was fulfilled and verified,
Of those whom You have given Me, J have not lost even
one. [John 17:12.]
10 ‘Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it
and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right
ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11 Therefore, Jesus said to Peter, Put the sword
[back] into the sheath! The cup which My Father has
given Me, shall I not drink it?
12 So the troops and their captain and the guards
(attendants) of the Jews seized Jesus and bound Him.
13 And they brought Him first to Annas, for he was
the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest
that year. |
14 It was Caiaphas who had counselled the Jews
that it was expedient and for their welfare that one man
should die for Cinstead of, in behalf of} the people.
406 JOHN 18
15 Now Simon Peter and another disciple followed
Jesus. And that disciple was known to the high priest,
so he entered along with Jesus into the court of the palace
of the high priest.
16 But Peter was standing outside at the door. So
the other disciple, who was known to the high priest,
went out and spoke to the maid who kept the door and
brought Peter inside.
17 Then the maid who was in charge at the door
said to Peter, You are not also one of the disciples of
this (Man, are your He said, I am not!
18 Now the servants and the guards (the attendants)
had made a fire of coals, for it was cold, and they were
standing and warming themselves. And Peter was with
them, standing and warming himself.
19 Then the high priest questioned Jesus about His
disciples and about His teaching.
20 Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the
world; I have always taught in a synagogue and in the
temple area, where the Jews habitually congregate (as-
semble), and I have spoken nothing secretly.
21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard
[Me] what I said to them. See! They know what I
said.
22 But when He said this, one of the attendants who
stood by struck Jesus, saying, Is that how you answer
the high priest?
23 Jesus replied, If I have said anything wrong —
have spoken abusively, if there was evil in what I said
eae eae of what He is, not what the speaker may have
thought He w
JOHN 18 407
— tell what was wrong with it. But if I spoke rightly and
properly, why do you strike Me?
24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the
high priest.
25 But Simon Peter [still] was standing and was
warming himself. They said to him, You are not also
one of Flis disciples, are you? He denied and said, I
am not!
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of
the man whose ear Peter cut off, said, Did I not see
you in the garden with Him?
27 And again Peter denied it. And immediately a
rooster crowed.
28 Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas intu the
praetorium (judgment hall, governor’s palace). And it
was early. They themselves did not enter the praetorium,
that they might not be defiled (become ceremonially
unclean), but might be fit to eat the Passover [supper].
29 So Pilate went out to them and said, What ac-
cusation do you bring against this ‘Man?
30 They retorted, If He were not an_ evildoer
(criminal) we would not have handed Him over to you.
31 Pilate said to them. ‘Take Him yourselves and
judge and sentence and punish Him according to your
fown] law. The Jews answered, It is not Iawful for
us to put any one to death.
32 This was to fulfill the word which Jesus had
spoken to show Cindicate, predict) by what manner of
death He was to die.
* Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speaker may have
thought He was.
408 JOHN 18
33 So Pilate went back again into the judgment hall
and called Jesus and asked Him, Are You the King of the
Jews?
34 Jesus replied, Are you saying this of yourself —
on your own initiative —or have others told it to you
about Me?
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your [own] people
and nation and their chief priests have delivered You to
me. What have You done?
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom Ckingship, royal
power) belongs not to this world. If My kingdom were
of this world, My followers would have been fghting
to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews. But
as it is, My kingdom is not from [this world] — has no
such origin or source.
37 Pilate said to Him, Then you are a King? Jesus
answered, You say it! CYou speak correctly,) for 1 am a
King. — Certainly Iam a King! ‘This is why I was born,
and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness
to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth Cwho is
a friend of the Truth, who belongs to the Truth) hears
and listens to My voice.
38 Pilate said to Him, What is truth? On saying
this he went out to the Jews again and told them, | find
no fault in "Him.
39 But it is your custom that I release one [prisoner]
for you at the Passover. So shall I release for you the
King of the Jews?
40 ‘Then they all shouted back again, Not Him — not
this Man — but Barabbas! Now Barabbas was a robber.
νυ Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speaker may have
thought He was.
JOHN 19 409
CHAPTER 19
O then Pilate took Jesus and scourged (flogged,
whipped) Him.
2 And the soldiers, having twisted a crown of thorns,
put it on His head and threw a purple cloak around Him.
3. And they kept coming to Him and saying, Hail,
King of the Jews! (Good health to you! Peace to you!
Long life to you, King of the Jews!) And they struck
Him with the palms of their hands. [Is. 53:3, 5, 7.]
4 Then Pilate went out again and said to them, See,
I bring Him out to you so that you may know I find no
fault (crime, cause for accusation) in Him.
5 So Jesus came out, wearing the thorny crown and
purple cloak, and Pilate said to them, See, [here is] the
‘Man!
6 When the chief priests and attendants (guards)
saw Him, they cried out, Crucify Him! Crucify Him!
Pilate said to them, Take Him yourselves and crucify
Him, for I find no fault Ccrime) in Him.
7 The Jews answered him, We have a Law, and
according to that Law He should die, because He has
claimed and made Himself out to be the Son of God.
8 So, when Pilate heard this said, he was more
alarmed and awe-stricken and afraid than before.
9 He went into the judgment hall again and said to
Jesus, Where are You from? — To what world do You
belong? But Jesus did not answer him.
10 So Pilate said to Him, Will you not speak [even]
to me? Do you not know that I have power (authority)
to release You and 1 have power to crucify You?
¢ Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speaker may have
thought He was.
410 JOHN 19
11] Jesus answered, You would not have any power
or authority whatever against Cover) Me, if it were not
given you from above. For this reason the sin and guilt
of the one who delivered Me over to you is greater.
12 Upon this Pilate wanted (sought, was anxious)
to release Him, but the Jews kept shrieking, If you re-
lease this Man, you are no friend of Caesar’s! Anybody
who makes himself a king sets himself up against Caesar
— is a rebel against the emperor!
13 Hearing this, Pilate brought Jesus out and sat
down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pave-
ment — the Mosaic Pavement, the Stone Platform; but
in Hebrew, Gabbatha.
14 Now it was the day of Preparation for the Pass-
over, and it was about the sixth hour — about twelve
o’clock noon. He said to the Jews, See, [here is] your
King!
15 But they shouted, Away with Him! Away with
Him! Crucify Him! Pilate said to them, Crucify your
King? ‘The chief priests answered, We have no king
but Caesar!
16 Then he delivered Him over to them to be cruci-
fied. And they took Jesus and led [Him] away.
17 So He went out, bearing His own cross, to the
spot called [Place of a] Skull; in Hebrew it is called
Golgotha.
18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two
others, one on either side and Jesus between them. [Is.
53:12.]
19 And Pilate also wrote a title [an inscription on a
JOHN 19 411]
placard] and put it on the cross. And the writing was,
Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.
20 So many of the Jews read this title, for the place
where Jesus was crucihed was near the city, and it was
written in Hebrew, in Latin [and] in Greek.
21 Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate,
Do not write, The King of the Jews, but, He said, I am
King of the Jews.
22 Pilate replied, What I have written, I have
written.
23 Then the soldiers when they had crucified Jesus
took His garments and made four parts, one share for
each soldier, and also the tunic [the long shirtlike under-
garment]. But the tunic was seamless, woven from the
top throughout.
24 So they said to one another, Let us not tear it,
but let us cast lots to decide whose it shall be. This was
to fulfill the Scripture, They parted My garments among
them, and for My clothing they cast lots. So the soldiers
did these things. [Ps. 22:18.]
25 But by the cross of Jesus stood His mother, and
His mother’s sister, Mary the [wife] of Clopas, and Mary
Magdalene.
26 So Jesus, seeing His mother, and the disciple
whom He loved standing near, said to His mother,
[*Dear] lady, behold (see) your son!
27 ‘Then He said to the disciple, Behold your mother!
4nd from that hour the disciple took her to his own
[keeping, own home].
-Abbott-Smith: “A term of respect and endearment.”
412 JOHN 19
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now
finished Cended), said in fulfillment of the Scripture, |
thirst. [Ps. 69:21.]
29 A vessel Cbowl) full of vinegar (a sour wine)
was placed there. So they put a sponge soaked in the
vinegar on [a stalk, reed] of hyssop and held it to [His]
mouth.
30 When Jesus had received the vinegar, He said,
It is fnished! and He bowed His head and gave up His
spirit.
31 Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to
prevent the bodies from hanging on the cross on the
Sabbath, for that Sabbath was a very solemn and im-
portant one, the Jews requested Pilate to have the legs
broken and the bodies taken away.
32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the
first one and of the other who had been crucified with
Him.
33 But when they came to Jesus, and they saw that
He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a
spear, and immediately blood and water came (flowed)
out.
35 And he who saw it — the eyewitness — gives this
evidence and his testimony is true, and he knows that
he tells the truth, that you may believe also.
36 For these things took place that the Scripture
might be fulfilled (verified, carried out), Not one of
His bones shall be broken. [Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12;
Psalms 34:20. ]
JOHN 20 413
37 And again another Scripture says, They shall
look on Him Whom they have pierced. [Zech. 12:10.]
38 And after this Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of
Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to
let him take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate granted
him permission. So he came and took away His body.
39 And Nicodemus also, who at first had come to
Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and
aloes, [weighing] about a hundred pounds.
40 So they took Jesus’ body, and bound it in linen
cloths with the spices (aromatics), as is the Jews’ cus-
tomary way to prepare for burial.
41 Now there was a garden in the place where He
was crucified and in the garden a new tomb, in which
no one had ever [yet] been laid.
42 So there, because of the Jewish day of Prepara-
tion [and] as the tomb was near by, they laid Jesus.
CHAPTER 20
Nv on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene
came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and
saw the stone had been removed from — lifted out of
[the groove across the entrance of] — the tomb.
2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other
disciple whom Jesus tenderly loved, and said to them,
They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and
we do not know where they have laid Him!
3 Upon this Peter and the other disciple came out
and they went toward the tomb.
4 And they came running together, but the other
disciple outran Peter and arrived at the tomb first.
414 JOHN 20
5 And stooping down he saw the linen cloths lying
there, but he did not enter.
6 Then Simon Peter came up, following him, and
went into the tomb, and saw the linen cloths lying there.
7 But the burial napkin Cor kerchief) which had
been around Jesus’ head, was not lying with the other
linen cloths, but was [still] *rolled up — wrapped round
and round —in a place by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb
first, went in too, and he saw and was convinced and
believed.
9 For as yet they did not know (understand) the
statement of Scripture that He must rise again from the
dead. [Ps. 16:10.]
10 Then the disciples went back again to their
[lodging places].
11 But Mary remained standing outside the tomb
sobbing. As she wept, she stooped down [and looked]
into the tomb.
12 And she saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of
Jesus had lain.
13 And they said to her, Woman, why are you sob-
bing? She told them, Because they have taken away
my Lord and I do not know where they have laid Him.
14 On saying this, she turned around and saw Jesus
standing [there], but she did not know (recognize) that
it was Jesus.
15 Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you crying
[so]? For whom are you looking? Supposing that it
« ASV, Vincent, Thayer, etc.
JOHN 20 415
vas the gardener, she replied, Sir, if you carried Him
rom here, tell me where you put Him and I will take
lim away.
16 Jesus said to her, Mary! Turning around she
aid to Him in Hebrew, Rabboni! which means Teacher
Master.
17 Jesus said to her, Do not cling to Me [do not
1iold Me] for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
Sut go to My brethren and tell them, I am ascending to
Viv Father and your Father, and to My God and your
“οὐ.
18 Away came Mary Magdalene, bringing the dis-
‘iples news Cword) that she had seen the Lord and that
le had said these things to her.
19 Then that same first day of the week, when it
vas evening, though the disciples were behind closed
loors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among
hem, and said, Peace to you!
20 So saying, He showed them His hands and His
ide. And when the disciples saw the Lord they were
iled with joy Cdelight, exultation, ecstacy, rapture).
21 Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you!
Just] as the Father has sent Me forth, so I am sending
rou.
22 And having said this, He breathed on [them]
ind said to them, Receive (admit) the Holy Spirit!
23 [Now, having received the Holy Spirit and being
led and directed by Him] if you forgive the sins of any-
me, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone,
hey are retained.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
416 JOHN 20
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin,
was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples kept telling him, We have
seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see in
His hands the mark made by the nails, and put my
finger into the nail prints, and put my hand into His
side, I will never believe [it].
26 Eight days later His disciples were again in the
house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though
they were behind closed doors, and stood among them
and said, Peace to you!
27 ‘Then He said to Thomas, Reach out your finger
here and see My hands; and put out your hand and place
[it] in My side. Do not be faithless and incredulous,
but [stop your unbelief and] believe!
28 Thomas answered Him, My Lord and my God!
29 Jesus said to him, Because you have seen Me,
Thomas, do you now believe Ctrust, have faith)? Blessed
and happy and "to be envied are those who have never
seen Me, and yet have believed and adhered to and
trusted in and relied on Me.
30 There are also many other signs and miracles,
which Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples,
which are not written in this book.
3] But these are written (recorded) in order that
you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed
One, the Son of God, and that through believing and
cleaving to and trusting in and relying upon Him you
may have life through (in) His name [that is, "through
what He is]. [Ps. 2:7, 12.]
« Souter.
b Cremer: ‘‘Biblico-Theological Lexicon of New Testament Greek.”
JOHN 21 417
CHAPTER 21
FTER this Jesus let Himself be seen and revealed
[Himself] again to the disciples at the sea of
Tiberias. And He did it in this way:
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas,
called the Twin, and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee,
also the sons of Zebedee and two others of His disciples.
3 Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing!
They said to him, And we are coming with you! So
they went out and got into the boat, and throughout
that night they caught nothing.
4 Morning was already breaking when Jesus came
to the beach and stood there. However, the disciples
did not know that it was Jesus.
5 So Jesus said to them, *Boys (children) have you
caught anything to eat with bread? — You do not have
any meat (fish) do you? — They answered Him, No!
6 But He said to them, Cast the net on the right
side of the boat and you will find [some]. So they cast
the net, and now they were not able to haul it in for
such a big catch (mass, quantity) of fish [was in it].
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter,
It is the Lord! Simon Peter, hearing him say that it
was the Lord, put (girded) on his upper garment — his
fsherman’s coat, his outer tunic — for he was stripped
[for work], and sprang into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came in the small boat,
for they were not far from shore, only some hundred
vards away, dragging the net full of fish.
® Souter.
418 JOHN 21
9 When they got out on land (the beach), they saw
a fire of coals there and fish lying on it [cooking], and
bread.
10 Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish which
you have just caught.
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net
to land, full of large fish, a hundred [and] fifty-three of
them. And [though] there were so many of them, the
net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, Come [and] have breakfast.
But none of the disciples ventured or dared to ask Him,
Who are You? Because they [well] knew that it was
the Lord.
13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them,
and also the fish.
14 This was now the third time that Jesus revealed
Himself Cappeared, was manifest) to the disciples after
He had risen from the dead.
15 When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these
[others do] — with reasoning, intentional, spiritual de-
votion, as one loves the Father? He said to Him, Yes,
Lord; You know that I love You —that I have deep,
instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close
friend. He said to him, Feed My lambs.
16 Again He said to him the second time, Simon,
son of John, do you love Me— with reasoning, inten-
tional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Fatherr He
said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You —
that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for
JOHN 21 419
You, as for a close friend. He said to him, Shepherd
Ctend) My sheep.
17 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of
John, do you love Me — with a deep, instinctive, per-
sonal affection for Me, as for a close friend? Peter was
grieved — took it ill —that He should ask him the third
time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You
know everything; You know that I love You —that I
have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as
for a close friend. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.
18 1 assure you, most solemnly I tell you, when you
were young, you girded yourself — put on your own belt
(girdle) —and you walked about wherever you pleased
to go. But when you grow old you will stretch out your
hands and someone else will put a girdle around you,
and carry you where you do not wish to go.
19 He said this to indicate by what kind of death
Peter would glorify God. And after this He said to him,
Follow Me!
20 But Peter had turned and saw the disciple whom
Jesus loved, following, who also had leaned back on Flis
breast at the supper and had said, Lord, who is it that is
going to betray You?
21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord,
what about this man?
22 Jesus said to him, If I will have him to stay Csur-
vive, live) till I come, what is that to you? — What con-
cern is it of yours? You follow Me!
23 So word went out among the brethren that this
disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that
420 JOHN 21
he was not to die, but, If I want him to stay (survive,
live) till I come, what is that to your
24 It is this same disciple who is bearing witness to
these things, and who has recorded (written) them; and
we [well] know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus
did. If they should be all recorded one by one [in
detail], I suppose that even the world itself could not
contain (have room for) the books that would be written.
THE ACTS
OF THE
APOSTLES
CHAPTER 1
N] the former [account which I prepared] Ὁ
Theophilus, I made a continuous report dealing with
all the things which Jesus began to do and to teach,
2 Until the day when He ascended, after He through
the Holy Spirit had instructed and commanded the apos-
tles (special messengers) whom He had chosen.
3. To them also He showed Himself alive after His
passion CHis suffering in the garden and on the cross),
by [a series of] many convincing demonstrations — un-
questionable evidence and infallible proofs — appearing
to them during forty days, and talking [to them] about
the things of the kingdom of God.
4 And while being in their company and eating at
the table with them, He commanded them not to leave
Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised,
OF which, He said, you have heard Me speak.
5 For John baptized with water, but not many
days from now you shall be baptized with — placed in,
introduced into— the Holy Spirit.
6 So when they were assembled they asked Him,
Lord, is this the time when You will re-establish the
kingdom and restore it to Israel?
7 He said to them, It is not for you to become
acquainted with and know "what time brings — the things
®*Wuest’s ‘‘Untranslatable Riches from the Greek New Testament.”
>Thayer’s ‘‘Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament—Grimm.”
421
422 ACTS 1
and events of time and their definite periods — fixed
‘years and seasons Ctheir critical nick of time), which the
Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own
choice and authority and personal power.
8 But you shall receive power — ability, efciency and
might — when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and
you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and
Samaria and to the ends—the very bounds —of the
earth.
9 And when He had said this, even as they were
looking [at Him], He was caught up, and a cloud re
ceived and carried Him away out of their sight.
10 And while they were gazing intently into
heaven as He went, behold, two men [dressed] in white
robes suddenly stood beside them,
11 Who said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand
gazing into heaven? ‘This same Jesus, Who was caught
away and lifted up from among you into heaven, will
return in [just] the same way in which you saw Him go
into heaven.
12 Then [the disciples] went back to Jerusalem from
the hill called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, [only] a
Sabbath day’s journey [three-quarters of a mile] away.
1. And when they had entered [the city], they
mounted to the upper room where they were ‘indefinitely
staying — Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip
and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son
of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the [son]
of James.
14 All of these with their minds in full agreement
¢Trench's ‘Synonyms of Greek New Testament.” ‘Moulton and Milligan.
ACTS 1 423
devoted themselves steadfastly to prayer, [waiting to-
gether] with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus,
and with His brothers.
15 Now one of those days Peter arose among the
brethren, the whole number of whom gathered together
was about a hundred and twenty.
16 Brethren, he said, it was necessary that the
Scripture be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold
by the lips of David, about Judas who acted as guide to
those who arrested Jesus.
17 For he was counted among us and received [by
divine allotment] his portion of this ministry.
18 Now this [man] obtained a piece of land with the
[money paid him as a] reward for his treachery and
wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the
middle [of his body] and all his intestines poured forth.
19 And all the residents of Jerusalem became ac-
quainted with the facts, so that they called the piece of
land in their own dialect, Akeldama, that is, Field of
Blood.
20 For in the book of Psalms it is written, Let his
place of residence become deserted and gloomy, and let
there be no one to live in it; and [again], Let another
take his position or overseership. [Ps. 69:25, 109:8.]
21 So one of the [other] men who have accompanied
us [apostles] during all the time that the Lord Jesus
went in and out among us,
22 From the baptism of John at the outset until
the day when He was taken up from among us, one
of these men must join with us and become a witness
to testify to His resurrection.
424 ACTS 2
23 And they accordingly proposed (nominated) two
men, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus,
and Matthias.
24 And they prayed and said, You, Lord, Who know
all hearts [*their thoughts, passions, desires, appetites,
purposes and endeavors], indicate to us which one of
these two You have chosen
25 ‘To take the place in this ministry and receive
the position of an apostle from which Judas fell away
and went astray to go (where he belonged,) to his own
(proper) place.
26 And they drew lots [between the two], and the
lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to and counted
with the eleven apostles (special messengers).
CHAPTER 2
ND when the day of Pentecost had fully come,
they were all assembled together in one place,
2 When suddenly there came a sound from heaven
like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled
the whole house in which they were sitting.
3 And there appeared to them tongues resembling
fire, which were separated and distributed and that
settled on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled — diffused throughout
their souls — with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
other (different, foreign) languages, as the Spirit >kept
giving them clear and loud expression Cin each tongue in
appropriate words).
5 Now there were then residing in Jerusalem Jews,
* Thayer. bVincent’s ‘‘Word Studies in the New Testament.”
ACTS 2 425
devout and God-fearing men from every country under
heaven.
6 And when this sound was heard, the multitude
came together and they were astonished and bewildered,
because each one heard them speaking in his own (par-
ticular) dialect.
7 And they were beside themselves with amazement,
saving, Are not all these who are talking Galileans?
8 Then how is it that we hear, each of us in our
own (particular) dialect to which we were born?
9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and inhabitants
of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and
[the province of] Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of
Libva about Cyrene, and the transient residents from
Rome, both Jews and the proselytes [to Judaism from
other religions];
11] Cretans and Arabians too—we all hear them
speaking in our own native tongues [and telling of] the
mighty works of God!
12 And all were beside themselves with amazement
and were puzzled and bewildered, saying one to another,
What can this mean?
13 But others made a joke of it and derisively said,
They are simply drunk and full of sweet [intoxicating]
wine.
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his
voice and addressed them: You Jews and all you resi-
dents of Jerusalem, let this be [explained] to you so that
vou will know and understand; listen closely to what
I have to say.
426 ACTS 2
15 For these men are not drunk, as you imagine, for
it is [only] the third hour [about nine o'clock] of the
day;
16 But [instead,] this is [the beginning of] what
was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, God
declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all man-
kind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy —
“telling forth the divine counsels — and your young men
shall see visions (that is, "divinely granted appearances),
and your old men shall dream [*divinely suggested]
dreams.
18 Yes, and on My menservants also and on My
maidservants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit,
and they shall prophesy — “telling forth the divine coun-
sels and predicting future events pertaining especially to
God’s kingdom.
19 And I will show wonders in the sky above and
signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire and smoking
vapor;
20 ‘The sun shall be turned into darkness and the
moon into blood, before the obvious day of the Lord
comes, that great and notable and conspicuous and re-
nowned [day].
21 And it shall be that whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord — that is, "invoking, adoring and
worshipping the Lord (Christ) — shall be saved. [Joel
2:28-32. ]
22 You men of Israel, listen to what I have to say:
Jesus of Nazareth, a Man accredited and pointed out and
*Abbott-Smith’s “Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.”
bThayer.
ACTS 2 427
shown forth and commended and attested to you by God,
by the mighty works and [the power of performing]
wonders and signs which God worked through Him
[right] in your midst, as you yourselves know,
23 This Jesus, when delivered up according to the
definite and fixed purpose and settled plan and fore-
knowledge of God, you crucified and put out of the way,
[killing Him] by the hands of lawless and wicked men.
24 [But] God raised Him up, liberating Him from
the pangs of death, seeing that it was not possible for
Him to continue to be controlled or retained by it.
25 For David says in regard to Him, I saw the Lord
constantly before me, for He is at my right hand that I
may not be shaken or overthrown or cast down [from
my secure and happy state].
26 ‘Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue ex-
ulted exceedingly; moreover my flesh also will rest
in hope — will encamp, pitch its tent and dwell on hope
[in anticipation of the resurrection].
27 For You will not abandon My soul, leaving it
helpless in Hades [the state of departed spirits], nor let
Your Holy One know decay or see destruction [of the
body after death].
28 You have made known to Me the ways of life; You
will enrapture Me — diffusing My soul with joy — with
and in Your presence. [Ps. 16:8-11.]
29 Brethren, it is permitted me to tell you conf-
dently and with freedom concerning the patriarch David
that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with
us to this day.
30 Being however a prophet, and knowing that God
428 ACTS 2
had sealed to him with an oath that He would set one
of his descendants on his throne, [Ps. 132:11.]
31 He foreseeing this, spoke Cby foreknowledge) of
the resurrection of the Christ, the Messiah, that He was
not deserted [in death] and left in Hades [the state of
departed spirits], nor did His body know decay or see
destruction. [Ps. 16:10.]
32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all we
[His disciples] are witnesses.
33 Being therefore lifted high by the right hand of
God, and having received from the Father *the promised
[blessing which is the] Holy Spirit, He has made this
outpouring which you yourselves both see and hear.
34 For David did not ascend into the heavens; yet
he himself says, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My
tight hand, and share My throne
39 Till I make Your enemies a footstool for Your
feet. [Ps. 110:1.]
36 Therefore let the whole house of Israel recognize
beyond all doubt and acknowledge assuredly that God
has made Him both Lord and Christ, the Messiah,
this Jesus Whom you crucified.
37 Now when they heard this they were stung (cut)
to the heart, and they said to Peter and the rest of the
apostles (special messengers), Brethren, what shall we
do?
38 And Peter answered them, Repent — change your
views, and purpose to accept the will of God in your
inner selves instead of rejecting it—and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
«Thayer.
ACTS 2 429
forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise (of the Holy Spirit) is to and
for you and your children, and to and for all that are
far away, [even] to as many as the Lord our God invites
and bids come to Himself. [Is. 57:19; Joel 2:32.]
40 And [Pcter] "solemnly and earnestly witnessed
Ctestified) and admonished (exhorted) with much more
continuous speaking and warned Creproved, advised, en-
couraged) them, saying, Be saved from this crooked
Cperverse, wicked, unjust) generation.
41] Therefore those who accepted and welcomed his
message were baptized, and there were added that day
about three thousand souls.
42 And they steadfastly persevered, devoting them-
selves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the
apostles, to the breaking of bread [including ‘the Lord’s
Supper] and prayers.
43 And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon
every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed
through the apostles — the special messengers.
44 And all who believed —that is, who adhered to
and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ — were united,
and together they had everything in common;
45 And they sold their possessions [both their landed
property and their movable goods] and distributed the
price among all, according as any had need.
46 And day after day they regularly assembled
in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes
®Vincent: The preposition dia gives this force. ¢Many authorities,
430 ACTS 3
they broke bread [including the Lord’s Supper]. ‘They
partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and
generous hearts,
47 Constantly praising God and being in favor and
goodwill with all the people, and the Lord kept adding
[to their number] daily those who were being saved
Cfrom spiritual death).
CHAPTER 3
OW Peter and John were going up to the temple
at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour Cthree o'clock
in the afternoon),
2 [When] a certain man crippled from his birth was
being carried along, who was laid each day at that gate
of the temple [which is] called Beautiful, that he might
beg for charitable gifts from those who entered the temple.
3 So when he saw Peter and John about to go into
the temple, he asked them to give him a gift.
4 And Peter directed his gaze intently at him, and
so did John, and said, Look at us!
5 And [the man] paid attention to them, expecting
that he was going to get something from them.
6 But Peter said, Silver and gold money, I have none;
but what I do have, that I give to you: in the C4use of)
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!
7 Then he took hold of the man’s right hand with a
firm grip and raised him up. And at once his feet and
ankle bones became strong and steady,
8 And leaping forth he stood and *began to walk, and
dThayer. Vincent,
ACTS 3 431
he went into the temple with them, walking and leaping
and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking about and
praising God,
10 And they recognized him as the man who usually
sat [begging] for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the tem-
ple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement
Cbewilderment, consternation) over what had occurred
to him.
11 Now while he [still] farmly clung to Peter and
John, all the people in utmost amazement ran together
and crowded around them in the covered porch (walk)
called Solomon’s.
12 And Peter seeing it, answered the people, You
men, Israelites, why are you so surprised and wondering
at this? Why do you keep staring at us, as though by
our [own individual] power or [active] piety we had
made [this man able] to walk?
13. The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob,
the God of our forefathers, has glorified His Servant and
*Son Jesus — doing Him this honor — Whom you indeed
delivered up and denied and rejected and disowned in
the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to let
Him go. [Ex. 3:6; Is. 52:13.]
14 But you denied and rejected and disowned the
Pure and Holy, the Just and Blameless One, and de-
manded [the pardon of] a murderer to be granted to you.
15 But you killed the very Source — the Author — of
life, Whom God raised from the dead. To this we are
witnesses,
*Alternate reading.
432 ACTS 3
16 And His name, through and by faith in His name,
has made this man whom you see and recognize well
and strong. [Yes,] the faith which is through and ὃν
Him [Jesus] has given the man this perfect soundness
[of body] before all of you.
17 And now, brethren, I know that you acted in
ignorance — not aware of what you were doing —as did
your rulers also.
18 Thus has God fulfilled what He foretold by the
mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ, the Messiah,
should undergo ill treatment and be afflicted and suffer.
19 So repent — change your mind and purpose; turn
around and return [to God], that your sins may be
erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refresh-
ing — of recovering from the effects of heat, of "reviving
with fresh air — may come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And that He may send [to you] the Christ, the
Messiah, Who before was designated and appointed for
you, Jesus,
21 Whom heaven must receive [and retain] until the
time for the complete restoration of all that God spoke
by the mouth of all His holy prophets for ages past —
from the most ancient time in the memory of man.
22 Thus Moses said to the forefathers, The Lord God
will raise up for you a Prophet from among your brethren
as [He raised up] me; Him you shall listen to and under-
stand by hearing, and heed in all things whatever He
tells you.
23 And it shall be that every soul that does not
listen to and understand by hearing and heed that
>Vincent,
ACTS 4 433
Prophet shall be utterly ‘exterminated from among the
people. [Deut. 18:15-19; Lev. 23:29.]
24 Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel and those
who came afterwards, as many as have spoken also
promised and foretold and proclaimed these days.
25 You are the descendants (sons) of the prophets
and the heirs of the covenant which God made and
gave to your forefathers, saying to Abraham, And in
your Seed (Heir), shall all the families of the earth be
blessed and benefited. [Gen. 22:18; cf. Gal. 3:16.]
26 It was to you first that God sent His Servant and
“Son Jesus, when He raised Him up (¢provided, gave
Him,) to bless you in turning every one of you from
your wickedness and evil ways.
CHAPTER 4
ND while they [Peter and John] were talking to
the people, the high priests and the military com-
mander of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon
them,
2 Being vexed and indignant through and through
because they were teaching the people and proclaiming
in [the case of] Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3. So they laid hands on them (arrested them) and
put them in prison until the following day, for it was
already evening.
4 But many of those who heard the message believed
— adhered to and trusted in and relied on [Jesus as the
Christ]. And their number grew and came to about five
thousand.
¢ Souter, 4 Alternate reading. 5 Jamieson, Fausett and Brown.
434 ACTS 4
5 Then on the following day their magistrates and
elders and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem,
6 Including Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and
John and Alexander, and all others who belonged to the
high priestly relationship.
7 And they set the men in the midst and repeatedly
demanded, By what sort of power or by what kind of
authority did [such people as] you do this [healing]?
8 Then Peter, [because he was] filled with [and con-
trolled by] the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the
people and members of the council,
9 If we are being put on trial [here] today and ex-
amined concerning a good deed done to benefit a feeble
Chelpless) cripple, by what means this man has been
restored to health,
10 Let it be known and understood by you all, and
by the whole house of Israel, that in the name and
through the power and authority of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, Whom you crucified, [but] Whom God raised
from the dead, in Him and by means [of Him] this man
is standing here before you well and sound in body.
11 This [Jesus] is the Stone which was despised
and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become
the Head [the external angle] of the corner — the Cor-
nerstone. [Ps. 118:22.]
12 And there is salvation in and through no one
else, for there is no other name under heaven given
among men by and in which we must be saved.
13 Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered
eloquence of Peter and John, and perceived that they
were unlearned and untrained in the schools — common
ACTS 4 435
men with no advantages—thev marvelled; and they
recognized that they had been with Jesus.
14 And since they saw the man who had been cured
standing there beside them, they could not contradict
the fact or say anything in opposition.
15 But — having ordered [the prisoners] to go aside
out of the council [chamber], they conferred (debated)
among themselves,
16 Saying, What are we to do with these men? For
that an extraordinary miracle has been performed by
(through) them is plain to all the residents of Jerusalem,
and we cannot deny it.
17 But in order that it may not spread further
among the people avd the nation, let us warn and forbid
them with a stern threat to speak any more to any one
in this name —or about this Person.
18 [So] they summoned them and imperatively in-
structed them not to converse in any way or teach at all
in or about the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John replied to them, Whether it
is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obey
you rather than God, you must decide (judge).
20 But we [ourselves] cannot help telling what we
have seen and heard.
21 ‘Then when [the rulers and council members] had
further threatened them, they let them go, not seeing
how they could secure a conviction against them, be-
cause of the people; for everybody was praising and
glorifying God for what had occurred,
22 For the man on whom this sign (miracle) of
healing was performed was more than forty years old.
436 ACTS 4
23 After they were permitted to go, [the apostles]
returned to their own [company] and told all that the
chief priests and elders had said to them.
24 And they, when they heard it, lifted their voices
together with one united mind to God and said, O
Sovereign Lord, You are He Who made the heaven
and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them,
fEx. 20:11; Ps. 146:6.]
25 Who by the mouth of our forefather David, Your
servant and *child, said through the Holy Spirit, Why
did the heathen [Gentiles} become wanton and insolent
and rage, and the people imagine and study and plan
vain (fruitless) things — that will not succeed?
26 ‘The kings of the earth took their stand in arrav
(for attack], and the rulers were assembled and combined
together against the Lord and against His Anointed,
Christ, the Messiah. [Ps. 2:1, 2.]
27 For in this city there actually met and plotted
together against Your holy Child and Servant Jesus,
Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and
Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel,
[Ἐς 2Ὲ1|;.2.}
28 Το carry out all that Your hand and Your will and
purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur.
29 And now, Lord, observe their threats and grant
to Your bond servants [full freedom} to declare Your
message fearlessly,
30 While You stretch out Your hand to cure and
to perform signs and wonders through the authority and
by the power of the name of Your holy Child and
“Servant Jesus.
Alternate reading.
ACTS 5 437
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which
they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled
with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the
Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage.
32 Now the company of believers was of one heart
and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything
which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but every-
thing they had was in common and for the use of all.
33 And with great strength and ability and power
the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus, and great grace — loving kindness and
favor and goodwill — rested richly upon them all.
34 Nor was there a destitute or needy person among
them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses
proceeded to sell them, and one by one they brought
Cgave back) the amount received from the sales
35 And laid it at the feet of the apostles. Then
distribution was made according as any one had need.
36 Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus who
was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (special messen-
gers), which interpreted means, Son of Encouragement,
37 Sold a held which belonged to him, and brought
the sum of money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.
CHAPTER 5
UT a certain man named Ananias with his wife
Sapphira sold a piece of property,
2 And with his wife’s knowledge and connivance he
kept back and wrongfully appropriated some of the
proceeds, bringing a part only and putting it at the feet
of the apostles.
438 ACTS 5
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your
heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the
Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise]
withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part
of the price from the sale of the land?
4 As long as it remained unsold, was it not still
your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the
money] at your disposal and under your control? Why
then, is it that you have proposed avd purposed in your
heart to do this thing? — How could you have the heart
to do such a deed? You have not (simply) lied to men —
playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful —
but to God.
5 Upon hearing these words, Ananias fell down and
died. And great dread and terror took possession of all
who heard of it.
6 And the young men arose and wrapped up [the
body] and carried it out [and] buried it.
7 Now after an interval of about three hours his
wife came in, not having learned of what had happened.
8 And Peter said to her, Tell me, did you sell the
land for so much? Yes, she said, for so much.
9 Then Peter said to her, How could you two have
agreed and conspired together to try to deceive the
Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The fect of those who
have buried your husband are at the door, and they
will carry you out [also].
10 And instantly she fell down at his feet and died,
and the young men entering found her dead, and they
carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And the whole church was appalled — great awe
ACTS 5 439
ind strange terror and dread seized them — and all others
who heard of these things.
12 Now by the hands of the apostles (special
nessengers) numerous and startling signs and wonders
were being performed among the people. And by com-
non consent they all met together [at the temple] in the
sorch or covered walk called Solomon’s.
13. And none of those who were not of their number
Jared to join and associate with them, but the people
ield them in high regard and praised and made much
of them.
14 More and more there were being added to the
Lord those who believed — [that is] those who acknowl-
edged Jesus as their Savior and devoted themselves to
[lim, joined and gathered with them — crowds both of
men and of women.
15 So that they [even] kept carrying out the sick into
the streets and placing them on couches and sleeping
pads, [in the hope] that as Peter passed by at least his
shadow might fall on some of them.
16 And the people gathered also from the towns and
hamlets around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those
troubled with foul spirits, and they were all cured.
17 But the high priest rose up and all who were
his supporters, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and
being filled with jealousy and indignation and rage
18 They seized and arrested the apostles (special
messengers) and put them in the public jail.
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened
the prison doors and leading them out said,
dAbbott-Smith.
440 ACTS 5
20 Go, take your stand in the temple courts and de-
clare to the people the whole doctrine concerning this
Life [the eternal life which Christ revealed].
21 And when they heard this, they accordingly went
into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Now
the high priest and his supporters who were with him
arrived and called together the council (Sanhedrin)
and [even] all the senate of the Jews, and they sent to
the prison to have [the apostles] brought.
22 But when the attendants arrived there they failed
to find them in the jail; so they came back and reported,
23 We found the prison quite safely locked up and
the guards were on duty outside the doors, but when we
opened [it] we found no one on the inside.
24 Now when the military leader of the temple area
and the chief priests heard these facts, they were much
perplexed and thoroughly at a loss about them, wondering
into what this might grow.
25 But some man came and reported to them, saying,
Listen! The men whom you put in jail are standing
[right here] in the temple and teaching the people!
26 ‘Then the military leader went with the attendants
and brought [the prisoners], but without violence for
they dreaded the people lest they be stoned by them.
27 So they brought them [and] set them before the
council (Sanhedrin). And the high priest examined
them by questioning,
28 Saying, We definitely commanded and strictly
charged you not to teach in or about this Name; yet here
ACTS 5 44]
you have flooded Jerusalem with your doctrine and you
intend to bring this ‘Man's blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the apostles replied, We must
obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus Whom
you killed by hanging Him on a tree (cross). [Deut.
215225. 230)
31 God exalted Him to His right hand to be Prince
and Leader and Savior and Deliverer and Preserver, in
order to grant repentance to Israel and to bestow for-
giveness and release from sins.
32 And we are witnesses of these things, and the
Holy Spirit is also, Whom God has bestowed on those
who obey Him.
33 Now when they heard this they were cut to the
heart and infuriated and wanted to kill the disciples.
34 Buta certain Pharisee in the council (Sanhedrin)
named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, highly esteemed
by all the people, standing up, ordered that the apostles
be taken outside for a little while.
35 Then he [addressed the council] saying, Men of
Israel, take care in regard to what you propose to do
concerning these men.
36 For before our time there arose Theudas, asserting
himself to be a person of importance, with whom a num-
ber of men allied themselves, about four hundred; but
he was killed and all who had listened to and adhered
to him were scattered and brought to nothing.
37 And after this one, rose up Judas the Galilean,
{who led an uprising] during the time of the census and
Capitalized because of what He is, not what the speakers may have
thought Him to be.
442 ACTS 6
drew away a popular following after him; he also perished
and all his adherents were scattered.
38 Now in the present case let me say to you, stand
off Cwithdraw) from these men and let them alone. For
if this doctrine or purpose or undertaking or movement is
of human origin, it will fail — be overthrown and come
to nothing;
39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop
or overthrow or destroy them; you might even be found
fighting against God!
40 So, convinced by him they took his advice, and
summoning the apostles they fogged them and sternly
forbade them to speak in or about the name of Jesus,
and allowed them to go.
41 So they went out from the presence of the council
(Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were being counted
worthy — dignifed by the indignity —to suffer shame
and be exposed to disgrace for [the sake of] His name.
42 Yet [in spite of the threats] they never ceased for
a single day both in the temple area and at home to teach
and to proclaim the good news (Gospel) of Jesus [as]
the Christ, the Messiah.
CHAPTER 6
OW about this time, when the number of the
disciples was greatly increasing, complaint was
made by the Hellenists (the Greek-speaking Jews),
against the [native] Hebrews because their widows were
being overlooked and neglected in the daily ministration
— distribution [of relief].
ACTS 6 443
2 So the twelve (apostles) convened the multitude
of the disciples and said, It is not seemly or desirable or
tight that we should have to give up or neglect [preach-
ing| the Word of God in order to attend to serving at
tables and superintending the distribution of food.
3 Therefore select out from among yourselves,
brethren, seven men of good and attested character and
repute, full of the CHoly) Spirit and wisdom, whom we
may assign to look after this business and duty.
4 But we will continue to devote ourselves stead-
fastly to prayer and the ministry of the Word.
5 And the suggestion pleased the whole assembly,
and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith [that is,
of a strong and welcome belief that Jesus is the Messiah],
and full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit; and Philip,
and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas,
and Nicolaus, a proselyte [convert] from Antioch.
6 ‘These they presented to the apostles, who after
prayer laid their hands on them.
7 And the message of God kept on spreading, and
the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem;
and [besides] a large number of the priests were obedi-
ent to the faith [in Jesus as the Messiah, through Whom
is obtained eternal salvation in the kingdom of God].
8 Now Stephen, full of grace — divine blessing and
favor — worked great wonders and signs (miracles) among
the people.
9 However, some of those who belonged to the
synagogue of the Freedmen [freed Jewish slaves], as it
was called, and [of the synagogues] of the Cyrenians,
and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and
444 ACTS 7
{the province of] Asia, arose [and undertook] to debate
and dispute with Stephen.
10 But they were not able to resist the intelligence
and the wisdom and [the inspiration of] the Spirit with
which he spoke.
11 So they [secretly] instigated and instructed men
to say, We have heard this inan speak, using slanderous
and abusive and blasphemous language against Moses
and God.
12 [Thus] they incited the people as well as the
elders and the scribes, and they came upon Stephen and
arrested him and took him before the council (Sanhed-
rin).
13. And they brought forward false witnesses who
asserted, This man never stops making statements against
this sacred place and the Law [of Moses];
14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus the
Nazarene will tear down and destroy this place, and
will alter the institutions and usages which Moses trans-
mitted to us.
15 Then all who sat in the council (Sanhedrin), as
they gazed intently at Stephen, saw that his face [had
the appearance of] the face of an angel.
CHAPTER 7
ND the high priest asked [Stephen], Are these
charges true?
2 And he answered, Brethren and fathers, listen to
me. The God of glory appeared to our forefather Abra-
ham, when he was still in Mesopotamia, before he [went
to] live in Haran, [Ps. 29:3; Gen. 11:31; 15:7.]
ACTS 7 445
3. And He said to him, Leave your own country and
your relatives and come into the land (region) that |
will point out to you. [Gen. 12:1.]
4 So then he went forth from the land of the Chal-
deans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his
father died [God] transferred him to this country in
which you are now dwelling. [Gen. 11:31; 15:7; 12:5.]
5 Yet He gave him no inheritable property in it, [no]
not even enough ground to set his foot on; but He prom-
ised that He would give it to him for a ®permanent
possession and to his descendants after him, [even though
as vet] he had no child. [Deut. 2:5; 12:7; 17:8.]
6 And this is [in effect] what God told him: That his
descendants would be aliens (sojourners) in a land be-
longing to other people, who would bring them into
bondage and ill-treat them four hundred years.
7 But I will judge the nation to whom they shall be
slaves, said God, and after that they shall escape and
come forth and worship Me in this [very] place. [Gen.
15:13, 14; Ex. 3:12.]
8 And [God] made with Abraham a covenant — an
agreement to be religiously observed — ¥of which circum-
cision was the seal. And under these circumstances
[Abraham] became the father of Isaac, and circumcised
him on the eighth day; and Isaac [did so] when he be-
came the father of Jacob, and Jacob [when each of his
sons was born], the twelve patriarchs. [Gen. 17:10-14;
21:2-4, 25:26; 29:31-35; 30:1-24; 35:16-26.]
9 And the patriarchs [Jacob’s sons] boiling with envy
bVincent.
446 ACTS 7
and hatred and anger, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt;
but God was with him, [Gen. 37:11; 28; 45:4.]
10 And delivered him from all his distressing afflic-
tions, and won him goodwill and favor and wisdom and
understanding in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt,
who made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
[Gen. 39:2, 3, 21; 41:40-46; Ps. 105:21.]
11] Then there came a famine over all of Egypt and
Canaan, with great distress, and our forefathers could
find no fodder [for the cattle] or vegetable sustenance
[for their households]. [Gen. 41:54, 55; 42:5.]
12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in
Egypt, he sent forth our forefathers [to go there on
their] first trip. [Gen. 42:2.]
13 And on their second visit Joseph revealed [himself]
to his brothers, and the family of Joseph became known
to Pharaoh, and his origin and race. [Gen. 45:1-4.]
14 And Joseph sent an invitation calling to himself
Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons
in all. [Gen. 45:9, 10.]
15 And Jacob went down into Egypt, where he him-
self died, as did [also] our forefathers; [Deut. 10:22.]
16 And their bodies were taken back to Shechem and
laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a
sum of silver money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
[Josh. 24:32; Gen. 50:13.]
17 But [in proportion] as the time for the fulfillment
of the promise drew near, which God had made to
Abraham, the [Hebrew] people increased and multiplied
in Egypt,
ACTS 7 447
18 Until [the time when] there arose over Egypt an-
other and a different king who did not know Joseph —
his history and services, and did not recognize his merits.
[Ex. 1:7, δὴ
19 He dealt treacherously with and defrauded our
race; he abused and oppressed our forefathers, forcing
them to expose their babies so that they might not be
kept alive. [Ex. 1:7-11, 15-22.]
20 At this juncture Moses was born, and was ex-
ceedingly beautiful in God’s sight; for three months
he was nurtured in his father’s house; [Ex. 2:2.]
21 Then when he was exposed [to perish], the
daughter of Pharaoh rescued him and took him and
reared him as her own son. [Ex. 2:5, 6, 10.]
22 So Moses was educated in ail the wisdom and
culture of the Egyptians, and he was mighty Cpowerful)
in his speech and deeds.
23 And when he was in his fortieth year, it came
into his heart to visit his kinsmen the children of Israel
‘with help and to care for them.
24 And on seeing one of them being unjustly treated,
he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by
striking down the Egyptian and slaying [him].
25 He expected his brethren to understand that God
was granting them deliverance by his hand — taking it for
granted that they would accept him; but they did not
understand.
26 Then on the next day he *suddenly appeared to
some who were quarreling and fighting among them-
selves, and he urged them to make peace and become re-
4Abbott-Smith. ®Vincent.
448 ACTS 7
conciled, saying, Men, you are brethren; why do you
abuse and wrong one another?
27 Whereupon the man who was abusing his neigh-
bor pushed [Moses] aside, saying, Who appointed you a
ruler Cumpire) and a judge over us?
28 Do you intend to slay me as you slew the Egypt-
ian yesterday?
29 At that reply Moses sought safety by flight, and
he was an exile and an alien in the country of Midian.
where he became the father of two sons. [Ex. 2:11-15,
22; 18:3, 4.]
30 And when forty years had gone by, there ap-
peared to him in the wilderness (desert.) of Mount Sinai
an angel, in the flame of a burning bramble-bush.
31 When Moses saw it he was astonished and mar-
velled at the sight; but when he went close to investigate,
there came to him the voice of the Lord saying,
32 I am the God of your forefathers, the God of
Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob. And Moses trembled
and was so terrified that he did not venture to look.
33 Then the Lord said to him, Remove the sandals
from your feet, for the place where you are standing is
holy ground and worthy of veneration.
34 Because I have most assuredly seen the abuse and
oppression of My people in Egypt, and have heard their
sighing and groaning, I have come down to rescue
them. So, now come! I will send you back to Egypt
[as My messenger]. [Ex. 3:1-10.]
35 It was this very Moses whom they had denied —
disowned and rejected — saying, Who made you our ruler
(referee) and judge? whom God sent to be a ruler and
ACTS 7 449
eliverer and redeemer, by and with the [protecting and
elping] hand of the Angel that appeared to him in the
ramble-bush. [Ex. 2:14.]
36 He it was who led them forth, having worked
‘onders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea, and
uring the forty years in the wilderness Cdesert). [Ex.
:3; 14:21; Num. 14:33.]
37 It was this [very] Moses who said to the children
E Israel, God will raise up for you a Prophet from among
our brethren as He raised me up. [Deut. 18:15, 18.]
38 This is he who in the assembly in the wilder-
ess (desert) was the go-between for the angel who
»oke to him on Mount Sinai, and our forefathers; and
e received to be handed down to us living oracles —
rords that still live. [Ex. 19.]
39 [And yet] our forefathers determined not to be
ibject to him — refusing to listen to or obey him; but
rusting him aside they rejected him, and in their hearts
earned for and turned back to Egypt. [Num. 14:3-4.]
40 And they said to Aaron, Make us gods who shall
be our leaders and] go before us; as for this Moses who
-d us forth from the land of Egypt, we have no knowl-
dge of what has happened to him. [Ex. 32:1, 23.]
41 And they [even] made a calf in those days, and
fered sacrifice to the ido] and made merry and exulted
1 the work of their [own] hands. [Ex. 32:4, 6.]
42 But God turned [away from them] and delivered
1em up to worship and serve the host (stars) of
eaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: Did
ou [really] offer to Me slain beasts and sacrifices for
450 ACTS 7
forty years in the wilderness (desert), O house of Israel?
[Jer. 19:13.]
43 [No!] You took up the tent — the portable temple
— of Moloch and carried it [with you], and the star-idol
of the god Rephan, the images which you [yourselves]
made that you might worship them; and I will remove
you — carrying you away [into exile] — beyond Babylon.
[Amos 5:25-27.]
44 Our forefathers had the tent (tabernacle) of
witness in the wilderness, even as He had ordered Who
directed Moses to make it, according to the pattern and
model he had seen. [Ex. 25:9-40.]
45 Our forefathers in turn brought [this tent of wit-
ness into the land with them when] with Joshua they
dispossessed the nations which God drove out before the
face of our forefathers. [So it remained there} until the
time of David, [Josh. 3:14-17; Deut. 32:49.]
46 Who found grace Cfavor and spiritual blessing)
in the sight of God and prayed that he might be allowed
to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. [1]
Sam. 7:8-16; Ps, 132:1-5.]
47 But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.
[I Kin. 6.]
48 However the Most High does not dwell in houses
and temples made with hands; as the prophet says, _[Is.
66:1, 2.]
49 Heaven [is] My throne, and earth the footstool
for my feet. What [kind of] house can you build for Me,
says the Lord, or what is the place in which I can rest?
50 Was it not My hand that made all these things?
[Is. 66:1, 2.]
ACTS 7 45]
51 You stubborn and stiff-necked people, still heath-
nish and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are al-
rays ‘actively resisting the Holy Spirit. As your fore-
ithers [were], so you [are and so you do]! [Ex. 33:3,
; Jer. 9:26; 6:10; Num. 27:14; Is. 63:10.]
52 Which of the prophets did your forefathers not
ersecute? And they slew those who proclaimed before-
and the coming of the Righteous One, Whom you now
ave betrayed and murdered,
53 You who received the Law as it was ordained and
5: in order and delivered by angels, and [yet] you did
ot obey it!
54. Now upon hearing these things, they [the Jews]
vere cut to the heart and infuriated, and they ground
heir teeth against [Stephen].
55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit and controlled by
Him}, gazed into heaven and saw the glory — the splen-
or and majesty — of God, and Jesus standing at God’s
ight hand;
56 And he said, Look! I see the heavens opened, and
he Son of man standing at God’s right hand!
57 But they raised a great shout and put their hands
ver their ears and rushed together upon him.
58 Then they dragged him out of the city and
iegan to stone him, and the witnesses placed their
arments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 And while they were stoning Stephen, he prayed,
cord Jesus, receive and accept and welcome my spirit!
60 And falling on his knees, he cried out loudly,
ord, £fx not this sin upon them — lay it not to their
Vincent. @Literal translation.
452 ACTS 8
charge! And when he had said this, he fell asleep ®[in
death].
CHAPTER 8
ND Saul was [not only] consenting to [Stephen’s]
death — [he was] ‘pleased and ‘entirely approving.
On that day a great and severe persecution broke out
against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they
were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and
Samaria, except the apostles — the special messengers.
2 [A party of] devout men ‘with others helped to
carry out and bury Stephen, and made great lamentation
over him.
3 But Saul shamefully treated and laid waste the
church continuously, — with cruelty and violence; and en-
tering house after house, he dragged out men and women
and committed them to prison.
4 Now those who were scattered abroad went about
through [the land from place to place] preaching the
glad tidings, the Word [that is, ‘the doctrine concerning
the attainment through Christ of salvation in the king-
dom of God].
5 Philip [the deacon, not the apostle] went down to
the city of Samaria, and proclaimed the Christ, the
Messiah, to [the people]; [Acts 6:5.]
6 And great crowds of people with one accord
listened to and heeded what was said by Philip, as they
heard him and watched the miracles and wonders which
he kept performing [from time to time].
7 For foul spirits came out of many who were pos-
hCremer. 'Thayer. iISouter.
ACTS 8 453
sessed by them, screaming and shouting with a loud
voice, and many who were suffering from palsy or were
crippled were restored to health.
8 And there was great rejoicing in that city.
9 But there was a man named Simon who had
formerly practised magic arts in the city to the utter
amazement of the Samaritan nation, claiming that he
himself was an extraordinary and distinguished person.
10 They all paid earnest attention to him, from the
least to the greatest, saying, This man is that exhibition
of the power of God which is called Great Cintense).
11] And they were attentive and made much of him,
because for a long time he had amazed and bewildered
and dazzled them with his skill in magic arts.
12 But when they believed the good news (the
Gospel) about the kingdom of God and the name of
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, as Philip preached it, they
were baptized, both men and women.
13. Even Simon himself believed — [that is] he ad-
hered to, trusted in and relicd on the teaching of Philip
— and after being baptized devoted himself constantly to
him. And seeing signs and miracles of great power
which were being performed, he was utterly amazed.
14 Now when the apostles (special messengers)
at Jerusalem heard that [the country of] Samaria had
accepted and welcomed the Word of God, they sent
Peter and John to them,
15 And they came down and prayed for them that
the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit;
16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them,
454 ACTS 8
but they had only been baptized into the name of the
Lord Jesus.
17 Then [the apostles] laid their hands on them one
by one and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 However, when Simon saw that the CHoly)
Spirit was imparted through the laying on of the apostles’
hands, he brought money and offered it to them,
19 Saying, Grant me also this power and authority,
in order that any one on whom I place my hands may
receive the Holy Spirit.
20 But Peter said to him, Destruction overtake your
money and you, because you imagined you could obtain
the [free] gift of God with money!
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter,
for your heart is all wrong in God’s sight — [it is] not
straightforward or right or true before God. [Ps. 78:37.]
22 So repent of this depravity and wickedness of
yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this *con-
triving thought and purpose of your heart may be re-
moved and disregarded and forgiven you.
23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and
la bond forged by iniquity [to fetter souls]. [Is. 58:6.]
24 And Simon answered, Pray for me! — Beseech the
Lord, both of you — that nothing of what you have said
may befall me!
25 Now when [the apostles] had borne their testi-
mony and preached the message of the Lord, they went
back to Jerusalem, proclaiming the glad tidings [Gospel]
to many villages of the Samaritans [on the way].
EVincent. 1 Thayer.
ACTS 8 455
26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Rise and
proceed southward ™at midday on the road that runs from
Jerusalem down to Gaza, This is the desert [°route].
27 So he got up and went. And, behold, an Ethiop-
jan, a eunuch, of great authority under Candace the
queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her
treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship.
28 And he was [now] returning, and sitting in his
chariot he was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.
29 Then the (Holy) Spirit said to Philip, Go for-
ward and join yourself to this chariot.
30 Accordingly Philip, running up to him, heard
(the man] reading the prophet Isaiah, and asked, Do
you really understand what you are reading?
31 And he said, How is it possible for me to do so,
unless some one explains it to me and guides me [in the
right way]? And he earnestly requested Philip to come
up and sit beside him.
32 Now this was the passage of Scripture which he
was reading: Like a sheep He was led to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so He opens
not His mouth.
33 In His humiliation "He was taken away by dis-
tressing and oppressive judgment, and justice was denied
Him Ccaused to cease). Who can describe or relate in
full °*the wickedness of His contemporaries (generation)?
For His life is taken from the earth and νὰ bloody death
inflicted upon Him. [ls. 53:7, 8.]
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, I beg of you, tell
m™ Alternate reading. 2Clarke quoting others.
°Vincent. » Thayer.
456 ACTS 9
me about whom does the prophet say this, about himself
or about someone else?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning
with this portion of Scripture he announced to him the
glad tidings (Gospel) of Jesus and about [Him].
36 And as they continued along on the way, thev
came to some water, and the eunuch exclaimed, See,
[here is] water! What is to hinder my being baptized?
372 And Philip said, If you believe with all your
heart [that is, if you have a conviction, full of joyful
trust, that Jesus is the Messiah, and accept Him as the
Author of your salvation in the kingdom of God, giving
Him your obedience, then] you may. And he replied, I
do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,
38 And he ordered that the chariot be stopped, and
both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water,
and [Philip] baptized him.
39 And when they came up out of the water, the
Spirit of the Lord [*suddenly] caught away Philip; and
the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his
way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing
on he preached the good news CGospel) to all the
towns until he reached Caesarea.
CHAPTER 9
EANWHILE Saul, ‘still drawing his breath hard
from threatening and murderous desire against
the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
®*Thayer. ¢Vincent.
ACTS 9 457
2 And requested of him letters to the synagogues at
Damascus [authorizing him], so that if he found any
men or women belonging to the Way [of life as deter-
mined by faith in Jesus Christ], he might bring them
bound [with chains] to Jerusalem.
3 Now as he traveled on, he came near to Damascus,
and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him,
4 And he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice
saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me —
harassing, troubling and molesting Me?
5 And Saul said, Who are You, Lord? And He said,
I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is dangerous
and it turns out badly for you to keep kicking against the
goad — that is, to offer vain and perilous resistance.
6 Trembling and astonished he asked, Lord, what
do You desire me to do? The Lord said to him, But
arise and go into the city and you will be told what
you must do.
7 The men who were accompanying him were
unable to speak [for terror], hearing the voice but seeing
no one.
8 Then Saul got up from the ground, but though
his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they
led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was unable to see for three days, and he
neither ate nor drank [anything].
10 Now there was in Damascus a disciple named
Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias.
And he answered, [Here am] I, Lord.
11 And the Lord said to him, Get up and go to the
street called Straight, and ask at the house of Judas for
458 ACTS 9
a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying
[there].
12 And he has seen in α vision a man named Ananias
enter and lay his hands on him so that he might regain
his sight.
13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard many
people tell about this man, especially how much evil and
what great suffering he has brought on Your saints at
Jerusalem;
14 Now he is here and has authority from the high
priests to put in chains all who call upon Your name.
15 But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a
chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before
the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel;
16 For I will make clear to him how much he will
be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name's
sake.
17 So Ananias left and went into the house. And
he laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul,
the Lord Jesus Who appeared to you along the way by
which you came here, has sent me that you may recover
your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
18 And instantly something like scales fell from
{Saul’s] eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose
and was baptized,
19 And after he took some food he was strengthened.
For several days [afterward] he remained with the dis-
ciples at Damascus.
20 And immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed
Jesus, saying, He is the Son of God!
ACTS 9 459
21 And all who heard him were amazed, and said,
Is not this the very man who harassed and overthrew
and destroyed in Jerusalem those who called upon this
Name? And he has come here for the express purpose
of arresting them and bringing them in chains before
the chief priests.
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and
continued to confound and put to confusion the Jews
who lived in Damascus by comparing and examining
evidence and proving that Jesus is the Christ, the
Messiah.
23 After considerable time had elapsed, the Jews
conspired to put Saul out of the way by slaying him,
24 But [the knowledge of] their plot was made
known to Saul. They were guarding the [city’s] gates
day and night to kill him,
25 But his disciples took him at night and let him
down through the [city’s] wall, lowering him in a basket
or hamper.
26 And when he had arrived in Jerusalem he tried
to associate himself with the disciples, but they were
all afraid of him, for they did not believe he really was
a disciple.
27 However, Barnabas took him and brought him
to the apostles, and he explained to them how along the
way he had seen the Lord, Who spoke to him, and how
at Damascus he had preached freely and confidently and
courageously in the name of Jesus.
28 So he went in and out [as one] among them at
Jerusalem,
29 Preaching freely and confidently and boldly in
460 ACTS 9
the name of the Lord. And he spoke and discussed with
and disputed against the Hellenists [the Grecian Jews],
but they were seeking to slay him.
30 And when the brethren found it out, they brought
him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus [his
home town}.
31 So the church throughout the whole of Judea
and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was edifed —
growing in wisdom, virtue and piety — and walking in
the respect and reverential fear of the Lord and in the
consolation and exhortation of the Holy Spirit, continued
to increase and was multiplied.
32 Now as Peter went here and there among them
all, he went down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had
been bedfast for eight years and was paralyzed.
34 And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ, the
Messiah, [now] makes you whole. Get up and make
your bed! And immediately [Aeneas] stood up.
35 Then all the inhabitants of Lydda and the plain
of Sharon saw [what had happened to] him and they
turned to the Lord.
36 Now there was at Joppa [a woman], a disciple
named [in Aramaic] Tabitha, which [in Greek] means
Dorcas or [in English] Gazelle. She was abounding in
good deeds and acts of charity.
37 About that time she fell sick and died, and when
they had cleansed her, they laid [her] in an upper room.
38 Since Lydda was near Joppa [however], the disci-
ACTS 10 461
ples hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him
begging him, Do come on to us without delay.
39 So Peter [immediately] rose and accompanied
them. And when he had arrived, they took him to the
upper room. All the widows stood around him crying,
and displaying under-shirts (tunics) and [other] gar-
ments such as Dorcas was accustomed to make while she
was with them.
40 But Peter put them all out [of the room] and
knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said,
Tabitha, get up! And she opened her eyes, and when
she saw Peter she raised herself and sat upright.
41 And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Uhen
calling in God's people and the widows he presented her
to them, alive.
42 And this became known throughout all Joppa,
and many came to believe on the Lord — that is, to adhere
to and trust in and rely on Him as the Christ and as
their Savior.
43 And Peter remained in Joppa for considerable
time with one Simon, a tanner.
CHAPTER 10
N° [living] at Caesarea there was a man whose
name was Cornelius, a centurion of what was
known as the Italian Regiment,
2 A devout man who venerated God and treated
Him with reverential obedience, as did all his household,
and he gave much alms to the people, and prayed con-
tinually to God.
3 About the ninth hour Cthree o’clock) of the day
462 ACTS 10
he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God entering and
saying to him, Cornelius!
4 And he gazing intently at him became fright-
ened, and said, What is it, Lord? And the angel said
to him, Your prayers and your [generous] gifts to the
poor have come up [as a sacrifice] to God and have been
remembered by Him.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and have them call
for and invite here one Simon whose surname is Peter;
6 He is lodging with Simon a tanner, whose house
is by the seaside.
7 When the angel who spoke to him had left,
Cornelius called two of his servants and a God-fearing
soldier from among his own personal attendants.
8 And having rehearsed everything to them, he sent
them to Joppa.
9 ‘The next day as they were still on their way and
were approaching the town, Peter went up to the roof
of the house to pray, about the sixth hour (noon).
10 But he became very hungry, and wanted some-
thing to eat; and while the meal was being prepared a
trance came over him,
11 And he saw the sky opened and something like
a great sheet lowered by the four corners, descending
to the earth.
12 It contained all kinds of quadrupeds and wild
beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the
alr.
13 And there came a voice to him saying, Rise up,
Peter, kill and eat.
14 But Peter said, No, by no means, Lord; for I have
ACTS 10 463
never caten anything that is common and unhallowed or
[ceremonially] unclean.
15 And the voice came to him again a second time,
What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, do not
you defile and profane by regarding and calling common
and unhallowed or unclean.
16 This occurred three times, then immediately the
sheet was taken up to heaven.
17 Now Peter was still inwardly perplexed and
doubted as to what the vision which he had seen could
mean, when [just then] behold the messengers that were
sent by Cornelius, who had made inquiry for Simon’s
house, stopped and stood before the gate.
18 And they called out to inquire whether Simon
who was surnamed Peter was staying there.
19 And while Peter was ‘earnestly revolving the
vision in his mind and meditating on it, the CHoly)
Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are looking for you!
20 Get up and go below and accompany them with-
out any doubt [about its legality] or any discrimination
or hesitation, for I have sent them.
21 Then Peter went down to the men and said, I am
the man you seek; what is the purpose of your coming?
22 And they said, Cornelius, a centurion (captain)
who is just and upright and in right standing with God,
being God-fearing and obedient, and well spoken of by
the whole Jewish nation, has been instructed by a holy
angel to send for you to come to his house; and he ‘has
464 ACTS 10
received in answer [to prayer] a warning to listen to and
act upon what you have to say.
23 So Peter invited them in to be his guests [for the
night]. [he next day he arose and went away with
them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied
him.
24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea.
Cornelius was waiting for and expecting them, and he
had invited together his relatives and his intimate friends.
25 As Peter arrived, Cornelius met him, and falling
down at his feet he made obeisance and paid worshipful
reverence to him.
26 But Peter raised him up, saying, Get up; I myself
am also a man.
27 And as [Peter] spoke with him, he entered the
house and found a large group of persons assembled;
28 And he said to them, You yourselves are aware
how it is not lawful or permissible for a Jew to keep com-
pany with or to visit or [even] to come near or to speak
first to any one of another nationality, but God has
shown and taught me by words that I should not call
any human being common or unhallowed or (cere-
monially) unclean.
29 ‘Therefore when I was sent for, 1 came without
hesitation or objection or misgivings. So now I ask for
what reason you sent for me.
30 And Cornelius said, This is now the fourth day
since about this time I was observing the ninth hour
[three o'clock in the afternoon] of prayer in my lodging
ACTS 10 465
place, when [suddenly] a man stood before me in daz-
zling apparel;
31 And he said, Cornelius, your prayer has been
heard and harkened to, and your donations to the poor
have been known and *preserved before God —so that
He heeds and is about to help you.
32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who
is surnamed Peter; he is staying in the house of Simon
the tanner, by the seaside.
33 So at once I sent for you, and you [being a Jew]
have done a kind and courteous and handsome thing
in coming. Now then, we are all present in the sight
of God to listen to all that you have been instructed by
the Lord to say.
34 And Peter opened his mouth and said: Most
certainly and thoroughly I now perceive and understand
that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of
persons,
35 But in every nation he who venerates and has a
reverential fear for God, treating Him with worshipful
obedience and living uprightly, is acceptable to Him and
‘sure of being received and welcomed [by Him].
36 You know the contents of the message which He
sent to Israel, announcing the good news CGospel) of
peace by Jesus Christ, Who is Lord of all,
37 The [same] message which was proclaimed
throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee after the
baptism preached by John:
38 How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of
Nazareth with the CHoly) Spirit and with strength and
«Thayer. bVincent. ¢Webster’s definition of ‘‘acceptable.”’
466 ACTS 10
ability and power; how He went about doing good and
4in particular curing all that were harassed and oppressed
by [the power of] the devil, for God was with Him.
39 And we are [eye and ear] witnesses of everything
that He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jeru-
salem. And [yet] they put Him out of the way — mur-
dered Him — by hanging Him on a tree;
40 But God raised Him to life on the third day and
caused Him to be manifest — to be plainly seen —
41 Not by all the people but to us who were chosen
Cdesignated,) beforehand by God as witnesses, who ate
and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
42 And He charged us to preach to the people, and
to bear solemn testimony that He is the God-appointed
and God-ordained Judge of the living and the dead.
43 To Him all the prophets testify (bear witness)
that every one who believes in Him — who adheres to,
trusts in and relies on Him, giving himself up to Him —
receives forgiveness of sins through His name.
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the
Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.
45 And the believers from among the circumcised
[the Jews] who came with Peter were surprised and
amazed, because the free gift of the Holy Spirit had been
bestowed and poured out largely even on the Gentiles.
46 For they heard them talking in [unknown] lan-
guages and extolling and magnifying God. ‘Then Peter
asked,
47 Can any one forbid or refuse water for baptizing
4Vincent.
ACTS 11 467
these people, seeing that they have received the Holy
Spirit just as we have?
48 And he ordered that they be baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Then they begged
him to stay on there for some days.
CHAPTER 11
OW the apostles (special messengers) and the
brethren who were throughout Judea heard [with
astonishment] that the Gentiles Cheathen) also had re-
ceived and accepted and welcomed the Word of God —
that is, the doctrine concerning the attainment through
Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God.
2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circum-
cision party [the Jewish Christians] found fault with
him — separating themselves from him in a hostile spirit,
opposing and disputing and contending with him,
3 Saying, Why do you go to uncircumcised men
and [even] eat with them?
4 But Peter began [at the beginning] and narrated
and explained to them step by step [the whole list of
events]. He said:
5 I was in the town of Joppa praying, and [falling]
in a trance I saw a vision, of something coming down
from heaven, like a huge sheet lowered by the four
corners; and it descended until it came to me.
6 Gazing intently and closely at it I observed in it
[a variety] of four-footed animals and wild beasts and
reptiles of the earth and birds of the air,
7 And I heard a voice saying to me, Get up, Peter;
kill and eat.
468 ACTS 11
8 But I said, [No] by no means, Lord; for nothing
common or unhallowed or (ceremonially) unclean has
ever entered my mouth.
9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven,
What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, do not
you dehle and profane by regarding or calling it common
or unhallowed or unclean.
10 ‘This occurred three times, and then all was drawn
up again into heaven.
11 And right then the three men sent to me from
Caesarea arrived at the house in which we were.
12 And the CHoly) Spirit instructed me to accom-
pany them without [the least] hesitation or misgivings or
discrimination. So these six brethren accompanied me
also and we went into the man’s house.
13 And he related to us how he had seen the angel
in his house which stood and said to him, Send men to
Joppa and bring Simon who is surnamed Peter;
14 He will give and explain to you a message by
means of which you and all your household [as well]
will be saved [from eternal death].
15 When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on
them just as on us at the beginning.
16 Then I recalled the declaration of the Lord, how
He said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall
be baptized with — ‘tbe placed in, introduced into — the
Holy Spirit.
17 If then God gave to them the same Gift [equally]
as He gave to us when we believed — adhering to, trust-
ing in and relying on — the Lord Jesus Christ, who was
¢Cremer.
fWuest’s ‘“‘Untranslatable Riches from the Greek New Testament.”
ACTS 11 469
I and what power or authority had 1 to interfere or hinder
or forbid or withstand God?
18 When they heard this they were quieted and
made no further objection. And they glorified God, say-
ing, Then God has also granted to the Gentiles re-
pentance *unto [real] life [after resurrection].
19 Meanwhile those who were scattered because of
the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen
had traveled as far away as Phoenicia and Cyprus and
Antioch, without delivering the message [concerning "the
attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom
of God] to anyone except Jews.
20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus
and Cyrene, who on returning to Antioch spoke to the
Greeks also, proclaiming [to them] the good news, the
Lord Jesus.
21 And the presence of the Lord was with them
with power, so that a great number [learned] to believe
— to adhere to and trust in and rely on the Lord — and
turned and surrendered themselves to Him.
22 The rumors of this came to the ears of the
church (assembly) in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas
to Antioch.
232 When he arrived and saw what grace (favor)
God was bestowing upon them, he was full of joy; and
he continuously exhorted — warned, urged and encourag-
ed — them all to cleave unto and remain faithful and de-
voted to the Lord with [resolute and steady] purpose of
heart.
24 For he was a good man [*good in himself and
«Thayer.
bCremer’s ‘“Biblico-Theological Lexicon in New Testament Greek.”
470 ACTS 12
also at once for the good and the advantage of other
people], full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit and
full of faith [that is, of his ‘belief that Jesus is the
Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation].
And a large company was added to the Lord.
25 [Barnabas] went on to Tarsus to hunt for Saul.
26 And when he had found him, he brought him
back to Antioch. For a whole year they assembled to-
gether with and ‘were guests of the church, and in-
structed a large number of people; and in Antioch the
disciples were first called Christians.
27 And during these days prophets — inspired teachers
and interpreters of the divine will and purpose — came
down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and
prophesied through the CHoly) Spirit that there would
be a great and severe famine come upon the whole world.
And this did occur during the reign of Claudius.
29 So the disciples resolved to send relief, every one
according to his individual ability —in proportion as he
had prospered — to the brethren who lived in Judea.
30 And so they did, sending [their contributions] to
the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
CHAPTER 12
BOUT that time Herod the king stretched forth
his hands to afflict and oppress and torment some
who belonged to the church (assembly).
2 And he killed James the brother of John with a
sword;
Thayer. dAlternate reading.
ACTS 12 47]
3 And when he saw that it was pleasing to the Jews,
he proceeded further and arrested Peter also. This was
during the days of Unleavened Bread (the Passover
week).
4 And when he had seized [Peter], he put him in
prison and delivered him to four squads of soldiers
of four each to guard him, purposing after the Passover
to bring him forth to the people.
5 So Peter was kept in prison; but fervent prayer
for him was persistently made to God by the church
Cassembly ).
6 The very night before Herod was about to bring
him forth, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers,
fastened with two chains, and sentries before the door
were guarding the prison.
7 And suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared,
standing beside him, and a light shone in the place
where he was. And the angel gently smote Peter on the
side and awakened him, saying, Get up quickly! And
the chains fell off his hands.
8 And the angel said to him, Tighten your girdle
and bind on your sandals. And he did so. And he said
to him, Wrap your outer garment around you and follow
me.
9 And [Peter] went along out following him, and he
was not conscious that what was apparently being done
by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10 When they had passed through the first guard
and the second, they came to the iron gate which leads
into the city. OF its own accord [the gate] swung open,
472 ACTS 12
and they went out and passed on through one street; and
at once the angel left him.
11 Then Peter came to himself, and said, Now I
really know and am sure that the Lord has sent His
angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod and
from all that the Jewish people were expecting to do
fo me.
12 When he at a glance became aware of this — ®com-
prehending [all the elements of the case] — he went to
the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname
was Mark, where a large number were assembled to-
gether and were praying.
13 And when he knocked at the gate of the porch,
a maid named Rhoda [Rose, in English] came to answer.
14 And recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she
failed to open the gate, but ran in and told the people
that Peter was standing before the porch gate.
15 They said to her, You are crazy! But she persist:
ently and strongly and confidently affirmed that it was
the truth. They said, It is his angel!
16 But meanwhile Peter continued knocking, and
when they opened the gate and saw him, they were
amazed.
17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep
quiet and listen, he related to them how the Lord had
delivered him out of the prison. And he said, Report
all this to James [the less] and to the brethren. Then
he left and went to some other place.
“Vincent.
ACTS 12 473
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small
disturbance among the soldiers over what had become
of Peter.
19 And when Herod had looked for him and could
not find him, he placed the guards on trial and com-
manded that they should be led away [to execution].
Then [Herod] went down from Judea to Caesarea, and
staved on there.
20 Now [Herod] cherished bitter animosity and hos-
tility for the people of Tyre and Sidon; and [their
deputies] came to him in a united body, and having
made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, they
asked for peace, because their country was nourished by
and depended on the king’s [country] for food.
21 On an appointed day Herod arrayed himself in
his royal robes, took his seat upon [his] throne, and ad-
dressed an oration to them.
22 And the assembled people shouted, It is the
voice of a god, and not of a man!
23 And at once an angel of the Lord smote him and
cut him down, because he did not give God the glory —
that is, the pre-eminence and kingly majesty that belong
to Him as the supreme Ruler; and he was eaten by
worms and died.
24 But the Word of the Lord [concerning the at-
tainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of
God] continued to grow and spread.
25 And Barnabas and Saul came back from Jeru-
salem when they had completed their mission, bringing
with them John whose surname was Mark.
474 ACTS 13
CHAPTER 13
OW in the church (assembly) at Antioch there
were prophets — inspired interpreters of the will
and purposes of God — and teachers, Barnabas, Symeon
who was called Niger [black], Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch,
and Saul.
2 While they were worshipping the Lord and fast-
ing, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas
and Saul for the work to which I have called them.
3 Then after fasting and praying they put their
hands on them and sent them away.
4 So then, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they
went down to Seleucia, and from [that port] they sailed
away to Cyprus.
5 When they arrived at Salamis they preached the
Word of God [concerning the attainment through Christ
of salvation in the kingdom of God] in the synagogues
of the Jews. And they had John [Mark] as an attendant
to assist them.
6 When they had passed through the entire island
of Cyprus as far as Paphos, they came upon a cer-
tain Jewish wizard or sorcerer, a false prophet named
Bar-Jesus.
7 He was closely associated with the proconsul,
Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent and sensible man
of sound understanding; he summoned to him Barnabas
and Saul and sought to hear the Word of God [concern-
ing salvation in the kingdom of God attained through
Christ].
ACTS 13 475
8 But Elymas *the wise man, for that is the trans-
lation of his name [which he had given himself],
opposed them, seeking to keep the proconsul from accept-
ing the faith.
9 But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with and
controlled by the Holy Spirit, looked steadily at [Elymas]
10 And said, You master in every form of deception
and recklessness, unscrupulousness and wickedness, you
son of the devil, you enemy of everything that is upright
and good, will you never stop perverting and making
crooked the straight paths of the Lord and plotting
against His saving purposes? [Hos. 14:9.]
11 And now, lo, the hand of the Lord is upon you,
and you shall be blind, [so blind that you will be] unable
to see the sun for a time. Instantly there fell upon him
a mist and a darkness, and he groped about seeking
persons who would lead him by the hand.
12 Then the proconsul believed — became a Christian
— when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished
and deeply touched at the teaching concerning the Lord
and from [Him].
13 Now Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos,
and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John [Mark]
separated himself from them and went back to Jerusalem;
14 But they [themselves] came on from Perga and
arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day
they went into the synagogue there and sat down.
15 After the reading of the Law and the prophets, the
leaders [of the worship] of the synagogue sent to them
® Abbott-Smith. bAlford’s ‘“The Greek Testament, with Notes.”’
476 ACTS 13
saying, Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation
or consolation or encouragement for the people, say it.
16 So Paul arose, and motioning with his hand said,
Men of Israel, and you who reverence and fear God,
listen!
17 The God of this people Israel selected our fore-
fathers and made this people great and important during
their stay in the land of Egypt, and then with uplifted
arm He led them out from there. [Ex 6:1, 6.]
18 And for about forty years [*as a nursing-father]
He cared for them in the wilderness, and endured their
behavior. [Deut. 1:31.]
19 When He had destroyed seven nations in the
land of Canaan, He gave them [the Hebrews] their
land as an inheritance — distributing it to them by lot;
[all of which took] about four hundred and fifty years.
[Deut. 7:1; Josh. 14:1.]
20 After that He gave them judges until the prophet
Samuel.
21 Then they asked for a king; and God gave them
Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin,
for forty years.
22 And when He had deposed him, He raised up
David to be their king; of him He bore witness and
said, I have found David the son of Jesse a man after
My own heart, who will do all My will and carry out
My program fully. [Ps. 89:20; I Sam. 13:14; Is. 44:28.]
23 Of this man’s descendants God has brought to
Israel a Savior [in the person of Jesus], according to His
promise.
eSome ancient authorities so read.
ACTS 13 477
24 Before His coming John had (already) preached
baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25 And as John was ending his course, he asked,
What do you secretly think that I am? I am not He
[the Christ. No], but note that after me One is coming,
the sandals of Whose feet I am not worthy to untie!
26 Brethren, sons of the race of Abraham, and all
those others among you who reverence and fear God,
to us has been sent the message of this salvation — the
salvation obtained through Jesus Christ. [Ps. 107:20.]
27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem and their rulers,
because they did not know or recognize Him or under-
stand the utterances of the prophets which are read
every Sabbath, by condemning and sentencing [Him]
have actually fulfilled these very predictions.
28 And although they could find no cause deserving
death with which to charge Him, yet they asked Pilate
to have Him executed and put out of the way.
29 And when they had finished and fulfilled every-
thing that was written about Him, they took Him down
from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.
30 But God raised Him from the dead.
31 And for many days He appeared to those who
came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and they
are His witnesses to the people.
32 So now we are bringing you the good news that
what God promised to our forefathers,
33 This He has ‘completely fulfilled to us their
children by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the
second Psalm, You are My Son; today I have begotten
“Vincent.
478 ACTS 13
You — *caused You to arise, to be born, [#formally shown
You to be the Messiah by the resurrection}. [Ps. 2:7.]
34 And as to His having raised Him from among
the dead, now no more to return to [undergo] putrefac-
tion and dissolution [of the grave], He spoke in this
way, I will fulfill and give to you the holy and sure
mercies and blessings [that were promised and assured]
to David. [Is. 55:3.]
35 For this reason He says also in another Psalm,
You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption —
to undergo putrefaction and dissolution [of the grave].
[Ps. 16:10.]
36 For David, after he had served God's will and
purpose and counsel in his own generation, fell asleep
[*in death], and was buried among his forefathers, and
he did see corruption and undergo putrefaction and dis-
solution [of the grave].
37 But He Whom God raised up [to life] saw no cor-
ruption — did not experience putrefaction and dissolution
[of the grave].
38 So let it be clearly known and understood by
you, brethren, that through this Man forgiveness and
removal of sins is now proclaimed to you;
39 And that through Him every one who believes,
[that is, who "acknowledges Jesus as his Savior and de-
votes himself to Him] is absolved (cleared and freed)
from every charge from which you could not be justified
and freed by the Law of Moses, and given right standing
with God.
«Thayer. >Cremer,
ACTS 13 479
40 ‘Take care, therefore, lest there come upon you
what is spoken in the prophets:
41 Look, you scoffers and scorners, and marvel, and
perish, and vanish away; for I am doing a deed in your
days, a deed which you will never have confdence in
or believe, [even] if some one — ‘clearly describing it in
detail — declares it to you. [Hab. 1:5.]
42 As they [Paul and Barnabas] went out [of the
synagogue], the people earnestly begged that these things
might be told to them [further] the next Sabbath.
43 And when the congregation of the synagogue
dispersed, many of the Jews and the devout converts
to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked to
them and urged them to continue [to trust themselves
to and stand fast] in the grace — that is, the unmerited
favor and blessing — of God.
44 The next Sabbath almost the entire city gathered
together to hear the Word of God—concerning ¢the
attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom
of God.
45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, filled with
envy and jealousy they contradicted what was said by
Paul, and talked abusively — reviling and slandering him.
46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out plainly and
boldly, saying, It was necessary that God’s message (con-
cerning ‘salvation through Christ) should be spoken to
you first. But since you thrust it from you, you pass
this judgment on yourselves that you are unworthy of
eternal life, and out of your own mouth you shall be
4Vincent. e Thayer.
480 ACTS 14
judged. [Now] behold, we turn to the Gentiles — the
heathen.
47 For so the Lord has charged us, saying, I have
set you to be a light for the Gentiles — the heathen —
that you may bring (eternal) salvation to the uttermost
parts of the earth. [Is. 49:6.]
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced
and glorified (praised and gave thanks for) the Word of
God; and as many as were destined (appointed and or-
dained) to eternal life believed — adhered to, trusted in
and relied on Jesus as the Christ and their Savior.
49 And so the Word of the Lord (concerning eternal
salvation through Christ) scattered and spread through-
out the whole region.
50 But the Jews stirred up the devout women of
high rank and the outstanding men of the town, and
instigated persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and
drove them out of their boundaries.
51 But [the apostles] shook off the dust from their
feet against them, and went to Iconium.
52 And the disciples were continually diffused
[throughout their souls} with joy and the Holy Spirit.
CHAPTER 14
OW at Iconium [also Paul and Barnabas} went
into the Jewish synagogue together and spoke with
such power that a great number both of Jews and of
Greeks believed — became Christians;
2 But the unbelieving Jews (who rejected their mes-
sage) aroused the Gentiles and embittered their minds
against the brethren.
ACTS 14 48]
5
3. So [Paul and Barnabas] stayed on there for a long
time, speaking freely and fearlessly and boldly in the
Lord, Who continued to bear testimony to the Word of
His grace, granting signs and wonders to be performed
by their hands.
+ But the residents of the town were divided, some
siding with the Jews and some with the apostles.
5 When there was an attempt both on the part of
the Gentiles and the Jews together with their rulers, to
insult and abuse and molest [Paul and Barnabas] and to
stone them,
6 They, aware of the situation, made their escape
to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and the neigh-
boring districts;
7 And there they continued to preach the glad
tidings (Gospel).
8 Now at Lystra a man sat whose feet it was im-
possible for him to use, for he was a cripple from birth
and had never walked.
9 He was listening to Paul as he talked, and [Paul]
gazing intently at him and observing that he had faith
to be healed,
10 Shouted at him, saying, Stand erect on your Feet!
And he leaped up and walked.
11 And the crowds, when they saw what Paul had
done, lifted up their voices, shouting in the Lycaonian
language, The gods have come down to us in human
form!
12 They called Barnabas Zeus, and they called Paul,
because he led in the discourse, Hermes [god of speech].
13 And the priest of Zeus, whose [temple] was at the
482 ACTS 14
entrance of the town, brought bulls and garlands to the
[city’s] gates and wanted to join the people in offering
sacrifice.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard
of it, they tore their clothing and dashed out among the
crowd, shouting,
15 Men, why are you doing this? We also are [only]
human beings, of nature like your own, and we bring
you the good news that you should turn away from
these foolish and vain things to the living God, Who
made the heaven and the earth and the sea and every-
thing that they contain. [Ex. 20:11; Ps. 146:6.]
16 In generations past He permitted all the nations
to walk in their own ways;
17 Yet He did not neglect to leave some witness of
Himself, for He did you good and kindnesses, and gave
you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying
your hearts with nourishment and happiness.
18 Even in [the light of] these words they with diff-
culty prevented the people from offering sacrifice to
them.
19 But some Jews arrived there from Antioch and
Iconium; and having persuaded the people avd won
them over, they stoned Paul and [*afterward] dragged
him out of the town, thinking that he was dead.
20 But the disciples formed a circle about him, and
he got up and went back into the town; and on the
morrow he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.
21 When they had preached the Gospel to that town
“Alford.
ACTS 14 483
and made disciples of many of the people, they went
back to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch,
22 Establishing and strengthening the souls and the
hearts of the disciples, urging avd warning and encourag-
ing them to stand firm in the faith, and telling them that
it is through many hardships and tribulations we must
enter the kingdom of God.
23 And when they had appointed and ordained
elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting,
they committed them to the Lord in Whom they had
come to believe [being full of joyful trust that He is the
Christ, the Messiah].
24 Then they went through Pisidia and arrived at
Pamphylia.
25 And when they had spoken the Word in Perga,
[that is, the doctrine concerning the attainment through
Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God], they went
down to Attalia;
26 And from there they sailed back to Antioch,
where they had [first] been commended to the grace of
God for the work which they had [now] completed.
27 Arriving there, they gathered the church together
and declared all that God had accomplished with them,
and how He had opened to the Gentiles a door of faith
[in Jesus as the Messiah, through Whom we obtain salva-
tion in the kingdom of God].
28 And there they stayed no little time with the
disciples.
484 ACTS 15
CHAPTER 15
Β΄ some men came down from Judea and were
instructing the brethren, Unless you are circumcised
in accordance with the Mosaic custom, you cannot be
saved.
2 And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dis-
agreement and discussion with them, it was decided that
Paul and Barnabas and some of the others of their num-
ber should go up to Jerusalem [and confer] with the
apostles (special messengers) and the elders about this
matter.
3. So, being "fitted out and sent on their way by
the church, they went through both Phoenicia and
Samaria telling of the conversion of the Gentiles, and
they caused great rejoicing among all the brethren.
4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were heartily
welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders,
and they told them all that God had accomplished
through them.
5 But some who believed [that is, who acknowledged
Jesus as their Savior and devoted themselves to Him] be-
longed to the sect of the Pharisees, and they rose up and
said, It is necessary to circumcise [the Gentile converts],
and to charge them to obey the Law of Moses.
6 The apostles and the elders were assembled to-
gether to look into and consider this matter.
7 And after there had been a long debate, Peter got
up and said to them, Brethren, you know that quite a
while ago God made a selection from among you, that
by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the message of
sThayer.
ACTS 15 485
the Gospel [concerning the “attainment through Christ
of salvation in the kingdom of God] and believe — that
is, credit and place their confidence in it.
8 And God, Who is acquainted with and understands
the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy
Spirit as also He did to us;
9 And He made no difference between us and them,
but cleansed their hearts by faith [that is, *by a strong
and welcome conviction that Jesus is the Messiah,
through Whom we obtain eternal salvation in the king-
dom of God].
10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting
a yoke on the necks of the disciples, such as neither our
forefathers nor we [ourselves] were able to endure?
11 But we believe that we are saved through the
grace [the undeserved favor and mercy] of the Lord
Jesus, just as they [are].
12 Then the whole assembly remained silent, and
they listened [attentively] as Barnabas and Paul rehearsed
what signs and wonders God had performed through
them among the Gentiles.
13: When they had finished talking, James replied,
Brethren, listen to me.
14 Symeon [Peter] has rehearsed how God first
visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people [to
bear and honor] His name.
15 And with this the predictions of the prophets
agree, as it 15 written,
16 After this I will come back, and will rebuild the
«Thayer.
486 ACTS 15
house of David, which has fallen; I will rebuild its
[very] ruins, and I will set it up again,
17 So that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and
all the Gentiles upon whom My name has been invoked,
18 Says the Lord Who has been making ®these things
known from the beginning of the world. [Amos 9:11], 12;
Jer. 12:15; Is. 45:21.]
19 Therefore it is my opinion that we should not
put obstacles in the way and annoy and disturb those
of the Gentiles who turn to God,
20 But we should send word to them in writing
to abstain from and avoid anything that has been pol-
luted by being offered to idols, and all sexual impurity,
and [meat of animals] that have been strangled, and
[tasting] of blood.
21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in
every town his preachers, for he is read [aloud] every
Sabbath in the synagogues.
22 ‘Then the apostles and the elders, together with
the whole church, resolved to select men from among
their number and send them to Antioch with Paul and
Barnabas. ‘They chose Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas,
[both] leading men among the brethren, and sent them.
23 With [them they sent] the following letter: The
brethren, both the apostles and the elders, to the brethren
who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia,
greeting:
24 As we have heard that some persons from our num-
ber have disturbed you with their teaching, unsettling
your minds and *throwing you into confusion, although
*Vincent.
ACTS 15 487
we gave them no express orders or instructions [on the
points in question],
25 It has been resolved by us in assembly to select
men and send them [as messengers] to you with our be-
loved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men who have hazarded their lives for the sake
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 So we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves
will bring you the same message by word of mouth.
28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and
to us not to lay upon you any greater burden than these
indispensable requirements:
29 That you abstain from what has been sacrificed
to idols and from [tasting] blood and from [eating the
meat of animals] that have been strangled and from
sexual impurity. If you keep yourselves from these
things, you will do well. Farewell — be sirong!
30 So when [the messengers] were sent off, they
went down to Antioch; and having assembled the con-
gregation, they delivered the letter.
31 And when they read it, the people rejoiced at
the consolation and encouragement [it brought them].
32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves proph-
ets Cinspired interpreters of the will and purposes of
God) urged and warned and consoled and encouraged
the brethren with many words and strengthened them.
33 And after spending some time there, they were
sent back by the brethren with [the greeting] Peace, to
those who had sent them.
34 Though Silas decided to stay on there.
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch and
488 ACTS 16
with many others also continued teaching and proclaim-
ing the Word of the Lord [concerning the ‘attainment
through Christ of eternal salvation in God's kingdom].
36 And after some time Paul said to Barnabas, Come,
let us go back and again visit and help and minister to
the brethren in every town where we made known the
message of the Lord, and see how they are getting along.
37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John
called Mark [his near relative].
38 But Paul did not think it best to have along with
them the one who had quit and deserted them in Pam-
phylia, and had not gone on with them to the work.
39 And there followed a sharp disagreement be-
tween them, so that they separated from each other,
and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to
Cyprus.
40 But Paul selected Silas and set out, being com-
mended by the brethren to the grace —the favor and
mercy — of the Lord.
41 And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, estab-
lishing and strengthening the churches.
CHAPTER 16
ND [Paul] went down to Derbe and also to
Lystra. A disciple named Timothy was there, the
son of a Jewish woman who was a believer — that is, she
had become ‘convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, and the
Author of eterna! salvation, and yielded obedience to
Him; but [Timothy’s] father was a Greek.
2 He [Timothy] had a good reputation among the
brethren at Lystra and Iconium.
4Thayer.
ACTS 16 489
3. Paul desired Timothy to go with him [*as a mis-
sionary ]; and he took him and circumcised him, because
of the Jews that were in those places, all of whom knew
that his father was a Greek.
4 As they went on their way from town to town,
they delivered over to the assemblies for their observance
the regulations decided upon by the apostles and elders
who were at Jerusalem.
5 So the churches were strengthened and made
firm in the faith, and they increased in number day
after day.
6 And Paul and Silas passed through the territory of
Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy
Spirit to proclaim the Word in [the province of] Asia.
7 And when they had come opposite Mysia, they
tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not
permit them.
8 So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.
9 [There] a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a
man from Macedonia stood pleading with him and say-
ing, Come over to Macedonia and help us!
10 And when he had seen the vision, we at once
endeavored to go on into Macedonia, confidently infer-
ring that God had called us to proclaim the glad tidings
(Gospel) to them.
11] Therefore, setting sail from Troas, we came in a
direct course to Samothrace, and the next day went on to
Neapolis.
12 And from there [we came] to Philippi, which is
“Vincent.
490 ACTS 16
the chief city of the district of Macedonia, and a
[Roman] colony. We stayed on in this place some days;
13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the
[city’s] gate to the bank of the river, where we supposed
there was [an accustomed] place of prayer, and we sat
down and addressed the women who had assembled
there.
14 One of those who listened to us was a woman
named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in
fabrics dyed in purple. She was [already] a worshipper
of God, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention
to what was said by Paul.
15 And when she was baptized along with her house-
hold, she earnestly entreated us, saying, If in your
opinion I am one really convinced [that Jesus is the
Messiah and the Author of salvation], and that I will be
faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. And
she induced us [to do it].
16 As we were on our way to the place of prayer,
we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a
spirit of divination — claiming to foretell future events
and to discover hidden knowledge — and she brought her
owners much gain by her fortunetelling.
17 She kept following Paul and [the rest of] us,
shouting loudly, These men are the servants of the Most
High God! They announce to you the way of salvation!
18 And she did this for many days. Then Paul,
being sorely annoyed and wor out, tumed and said to
the spirit within her, I charge you in the name of Jesus
ACTS 16 491
Christ to come out of her! And it came out that very
“moment.
19 But when her owners discovered that their hope
of profit was gone, they caught hold of Paul and Silas
and dragged them before the authorities in the forum
— market place [where trials are held].
20 And when they had brought them before the
magistrates, they declared, These fellows are Jews and
they are throwing our city into great confusion.
21 They encourage the practice of customs which it
is unlawful for us Romans to accept or observe!
22 The crowd falso] joined in the attack upon them,
and the rulers tore the clothes off of them and com-
manded that they be beaten with rods.
23 And when they had struck them with many
blows, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to
keep them safely.
24 He, having received [so strict a] charge, put them
into the inner prison {the dungeon] and fastened their
feet in the stocks.
25 But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were pray-
ing and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other]
prisoners were listening to them,
26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that
the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and
at once all the doors were opened and every one’s
shackles were unfastened.
27 When the jailer, startled out of his sleep, saw
that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and
*Moulton and Milligan’s ‘““The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament.”
492 ACTS 16
was on the point of killing himself, because he supposed
that the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul shouted, Do not harm yourself, for we
are all here!
29 Then [the jailer] called for lights and rushed in,
and trembling and terrihed he fell down before Paul
and Silas.
30 And he brought them out [of the dungeon] and
said, Men, what is it necessary for me to do that 1
may be saved?
31 And they answered, Believe in and on the Lord
Jesus Christ — that is, *give yourself up to Him, take
yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself
into His keeping, and you will be saved; [and this
applies both to] you and your household as well.
32 And they declared the Word of the Lord [that is,
the doctrine concerning the ®attainment through Christ
of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] to him and
to all whe were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night
and ‘bathed [them because of their bloody] wounds, and
he was baptized immediately and all [the members] of
his [household].
34 Then he took them up into his house and set food
before them; and he “leaped much for joy and exulted
with all his family that he believed in God [accepting
and joyously welcoming what He had made known
through Christ].
‘Thayer. *Wuest’s “Golden Nuggets from the Greek New Testament.”
¢Vincent’s ““Word Studies in the New Testament.’’
*Young’s Concordance.
ACTS 17 493
35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent police-
men, saying, Release those fellows and let them go.
36 And the jailer repeated the words to Paul, saying,
The magistrates have sent to release you and let you
go; now therefore come out and go in peace.
37 But Paul answered them, They have beaten us
openly and publicly, without a trial and uncondemned,
men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into
prison; and do they now thrust us out secretly? No,
indeed! Let them come here themselves and conduct
us out!
38 The police reported this message to the magis-
trates, and they were frightened when they heard that
the prisoners were Roman citizens;
39 So they came themselves and — striving to appease
them by entreaty— apologized to them. And _ they
brought them out and asked them to leave the city.
40 So [Paul and Silas] left the prison, and went to
Lydia’s house; and when they had seen the brethren,
they warned and urged and consoled and encouraged
them and departed.
CHAPTER 17
OW after [Paul and Silas] had passed through
Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessa-
lonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 And Paul entered, as he usually did, and for three
Sabbaths he reasoned and argued with them from the
Scriptures,
3 Explaining [them] and [quoting passages] setting
forth and proving that it was necessary for Christ to
494 ACTS 17
suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, This Jesus,
Whom 1 proclaim to you, is the Christ, the Messiah.
4 And some of them [accordingly] were induced to
believe, and associated themselves with Paul and Silas,
as did a great number of the devout Greeks and not a
few of the leading women.
5 But the unbelieving Jews were aroused to jealousy,
and getting hold of some loungers in the market place —
tufhans and rascals — they gathered together a mob, set
the town in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason,
seeking to bring [Paul and Silas] out to the people.
6 But when they failed to find them, they dragged
Jason and some of the brethren before the city authori-
ties, crying, These men who have turned the world
upside down have come here also,
7 And Jason has received them to his house and
privately protected them! And they are all ignoring and
acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, [actually] assert-
ing that there is another king, one Jesus!
8 And both the crowd and the city authorities on
hearing this were irritated — stirred up and troubled.
9 And when they had taken security [bail] from
Jason and the others, they let them go.
10 Now the brethren at once sent Paul and Silas
away by night to Beroea, and when they arrived they
entered the synagogue of the Jews.
11 Now these [Jews] were better disposed and more
noble than those in Thessalonica, for they were entirely
ready and accepted and welcomed the message [concern-
ing the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation
in the kingdom of God], with inclination of mind and
ACTS 17 495
eagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily
to see if these things were so.
12 Many of them therefore became believers, to-
gether with not a few prominent Greeks, women as
well as men;
13. But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that
the Word of God [#concerning the attainment through
Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] was
preached at Beroea also by Paul, they came there too, dis-
turbing and inciting the masses.
14 At once the brethren sent Paul off on his way to
the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained behind.
15 Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as
Athens; and receiving instructions for Silas and ‘Timothy
that they should come to him as soon as possible, they
departed.
16 Now while Paul was awaiting them at Athens,
his spirit was grieved and roused to anger as he saw
that the city was full of idols.
17 So he reasoned and argued in the synagogue with
the Jews and those who worshipped there, and in the
market place [where assemblies are held], day after day
with any who chanced to be there.
18 And some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philoso-
phers encountered him and began to engage in discussion.
And some said, What is this blabber with his scrap-
picked learning trying to say? Others said, He seems
to be an announcer of foreign deities, because he
preached Jesus and the resurrection.
19 And they took hold of him and brought him to
® Thayer.
496 ACTS 17
the Areopagus [Mars Hill auditorium] saying, May we
know what this novel — unheard of and unprecedented
— teaching is which you are openly declaring?
20 For you set forth some startling things, foreign
and strange to our ears; we wish to know therefore
just what these things mean.
21 For the Athenians, all of them, and the foreign
residents and visitors among them spent all their leisure
time in nothing except telling or hearing something
newer than the last.
22 So Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus
[Mars Hill auditorium] said: Men of Athens, I perceive
in every way —on every hand and with every turn I
make —that you are most religious (very reverent to
demons).
23 For as I passed along and carefully observed your
objects of worship, I came also upon an altar with this
inscription, Io the unknown god. Now what you are
already worshipping as unknown, this I set forth to you.
24 ‘The God Who produced and formed the world
and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth,
does not dwell in handmade shrines.
25 Neither is He served by human hands, as though
He lacked anything, for it is He Himself Who gives life
and breath and all things to all [people]. [Is. 42:5.]
26 And He made from one [common origin, one
source, one blood] all nations of men to settle on the
face of the earth, having definitely determined [their]
allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their
habitation — their settlements, lands and abodes;
27 So that they should seek God, in the hope that
ACTS 17 497
they might feel after Him and find Him, although He
is not far from each one of us.
28 For in Him we live and move and have our
being; as even some of your [own] poets have said, For
we are also His offspring.
29 Since then we are God’s offspring, we ought not
to suppose that Deity — *the Godhead — is like gold or
silver or stone, [that is, of the nature of] a representation
by human art and imagination, or anything constructed
or invented.
30 Such [former] ages of ignorance God, it is true,
ignored and allowed to pass unnoticed; but now He
charges all people everywhere to repent — [that is], 'to
change their minds for the better and heartily to amend
their ways, with abhorrence for their past sins.
31] Because He has fixed a day when He will judge
the world righteously Cjustly) by a Man Whom He has
destined and appointed for that task, and He has made
this credible and given conviction and assurance and
evidence to everyone by raising Him from the dead. [Ps.
9:8; 96:13; 98:9.]
32 Now when they had heard [that there had been]
a resurrection from the dead, some scoffed; but others
said, We will hear you again about this matter.
33. So Paul went out from among them.
34 But some men were on his side and joined him
and believed (became Christians); among them were
Dionysius, a judge of the Areopagus, and a woman
named Damaris and some others with them.
*King James Version. I'Thayer.
498 ACTS 18
CHAPTER 18
| Gees this [Paul] departed from Athens and went
to Corinth.
2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of
Pontus, recently arrived from Italy with Priscilla his
wife, due to the fact that Claudius had issued an edict
that all the Jews were to leave Rome. And [Paul] went
to see them;
3 And because he was of the same occupation he
stayed with them, and they worked [together], for they
were tentmakers by trade.
4 But he discoursed and argued in the synagogue
every Sabbath, and won over [both] Jews and Greeks.
5 By the time Silas and Timothy arrived from Mace-
donia, Paul was completely engrossed with preaching,
earnestly arguing and testifying to the Jews that Jesus
[is] the Christ.
6 But since they kept opposing and abusing and re-
viling him, he shook out his clothing [against them] and
said to them, Your blood be upon your [own] heads! I
am innocent [of it]. From now on I will go to the
Gentiles.
7 He then left there and went to the house of a
man named Titus Justus, who worshipped God, and
whose house was next door to the synagogue.
8 But Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed
[that Jesus is the Messiah and acknowledged Him with
joyful trust as Savior and Lord], together with his en-
tire household; and many of the Corinthians who listened
[to Paul also] believed and were baptized.
ACTS 18 499
9 And one night the Lord said to Paul in a vision,
dave no fear, but speak and do not keep silent;
10 For I am with you, and no man shall assault you
o harm you; for I have many people in this city. [Is.
13:5; Jer. 1:8.)
11] So he settled down among them for a year and
ix months, teaching the Word of God [concerning the
‘attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the
ingdom of God].
12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia [most
of Greece], the Jews unitedly made an attack upon Paul
ind brought him before the judge’s seat,
13 Declaring, This fellow is advising and inducing
and inciting people to worship God in violation of the
Law [of Moses].
14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth to
reply, Gallio said to the Jews, If it were a inatter of
some misdemeanor or villainy, O Jews, I should have
cause to bear with you and listen;
15 But since it is merely a question Cof doctrine)
ahout words anc names and your own law, see to it your-
selves; I decline to be a judge of such matters and I have
no intention of trying such cases.
16 And he drove them away from the judgment seat.
17 Then they [the Greeks] all seized Sosthenes, the
leader of the synagogue, and beat him right in front
of the judgment seat. But Gallio paid no attention to
any of this.
18 Afterward Paul remained many days longer, and
then told the brethren farewell and sailed for Syria, and
mThayer.
500 ACTS 18
he was accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cen-
chreae he [Paul] cut his hair, for he had made a vow.
19 Then they arrived in Ephesus, and [Paul] left the
others there; but he himself entered the synagogue and
discoursed and argued with the Jews.
20 When they asked him to remain for a longer
time, he would not consent,
21 But when he was leaving them he said, I will
return to you if God is willing, and he set sail from
Ephesus.
22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and
saluted the church [at Jerusalem], and then went down
to Antioch.
23 After staying there some time, he left and went
from place to place in an orderly journey through the
territory of Galatia and Phrygia, establishing the disci-
ples and imparting new strength to them.
24 Meanwhile there was a Jew named Apollos, a
native of Alexandria, who came to Ephesus. He was a
cultured and eloquent man, well versed and mighty in
the Scriptures.
25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord,
and burning with spiritual zeal, he spoke and taught
diligently and accurately the things concerning Jesus,
though he was acquainted only with the baptism of
John.
26 He began to speak freely — fearlessly and boldly —
in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard
him, they took him with them and expounded to him
the way of God more definitely and accurately.
®Vincent. Alford. Stanley. Others think Aquila is meant.
ACTS 19 501
27 And when [Apollos] wished to cross to Achaia
{most of Greece], the brethren wrote to the disciples
there, urging and encouraging them to accept and wel-
come him heartily. When he arrived, he proved a great
help to those who through grace — God’s unmerited favor
and mercy — had believed Cadhered to, trusted in and
relied on [Christ as Lord and Savior]).
28 For with great power he refuted the Jews in
public [discussions], showing and proving by the Scrip-
tures that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah.
CHAPTER 19
Wie Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through
the upper inland districts and came down to
Ephesus. There he found some disciples.
2 And he asked them, Did you receive the Holy
Spirit when you believed {on Jesus as the Chiist]? And
they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a
Holy Spirit.
3. And he asked, Into what then were you baptized?
They said, Into John’s baptism.
4 And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of
repentance, continually telling the people that they
should believe in the One Who was to come after him,
that is, in Jesus, [having a conviction full of joyful trust
that He is Christ, the Messiah, and being obedient to
I lim].
5 On hearing this they were baptized [again, this
time] in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And as Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy
Spirit came on them; and they spoke in foreign languages
and _ prophesied.
502 ACTS 19
7 There were about twelve of them in all.
8 And he went into the synagogue and for three
months spoke boldly, persuading and arguing and plead-
ing about the kingdom of God.
9 But when some became more and more stubborn
Chardened and unbelieving), discrediting and reviling
and speaking evil of the Way [of the Lord] before the
congregation, he separated himself from them, taking the
disciples with him, and went on holding daily discussions
in the lecture room of Tyrannus [>from about ten o’clock
till three].
10 This continued for two years, so that all the
inhabitants of [the province of] Asia, Jews as well as
Greeks, heard the Word of the Lord [concerning the
‘attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the
kingdom of God].
11 And God did unusual and extraordinary miracles
by the hands of Paul,
12 So that handkerchiefs or towels or aprons which
had touched his skin were carried away and put upon
the sick, and their diseases left them, and the evil spirits
came out of them.
13 Then some of the traveling Jewish exorcists [men
who adjure evil spirits] also undertook to call the name
of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying,
I solemnly implore and charge you by the Jesus Whom
Paul preaches!
14 Seven sons of a certain Jewish chief priest named
Sceva were doing this.
15 But [one] evil spirit retorted, Jesus J know, and
Paul I know “about, but who are you?
bAdded by some ancient authorities. ¢Thayer. 4A weaker verb.
ACTS 19 503
16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit dwelt,
leaped upon them, mastering °two of them, and was so
violent against them that they dashed out of that house
[in fear], stripped naked and wounded.
17 ‘This became known to all who lived in Ephesus,
both Jews and Greeks, and alarm and terror fell upon
them all; and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled
and magnihed.
18 Many also of those who were now believers came
making ‘full confession and thoroughly exposing their
{former deceptive and evil] practices.
19 And many of those who had practised curious
magical arts collected their books and (throwing them
tbook after book on the pile) burned them in the sight
of everybody. When they counted the value of them,
they found it amounted to fifty thousand pieces of silver
Cfabout $9,300).
20 ‘Thus the Word of the Lord [concerning the £at-
tainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the king-
dom of God] grew and spread and intensifed, prevailing
mightily.
21 Now after these events Paul determined in the
CHoly) Spirit that he would travel through Macedonia
and Achaia [most of Greece], and go to Jerusalem,
saving, After I have been there, I must visit Rome also.
22 And having sent two of his assistants, Timothy
and Erastus, into Macedonia, he himself stayed on in
(the province of] Asia for a while.
23 But as time went on there arose no little disturb-
ance concerning the Way [of the Lord].
eThe best texts read “both of them.” fVincent. & Thayer.
504 ACTS 19
24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who
made silver shrines of (the goddess) Artemis [not
Diana], brought no small income to his craftsmen.
25 ‘These he called together, along with the work-
men of similar trades, and said, Men, you are acquainted
with the facts and understand that from this business
we derive our wealth and livelihood.
26 Now you notice and hear that not only at Ephe-
sus but almost all over [the province of] Asia this Paul
has persuaded and induced people to believe his teaching
and has alienated a considerable company of them, saving
that gods that are made with human hands are not
really gods at all.
27 Now there is danger not merely that this trade of
ours may be discredited, but also that the temple of the
great goddess Artemis may come into disrepute avd count
for nothing, and that her glorious magnificence may be
degraded and fall into contempt, she whom all Asia and
the wide world worship.
28 As they listened to this they were filled with rage,
and they continued to shout, Great is Artemis of the
Ephesians!
29 Then the city was filled with confusion; and they
rushed together into the amphitheatre, dragging along
with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who
were fellow travelers with Paul.
30 Paul wished to go in among the crowd, but the
disciples would not permit him to do it.
31 Even some of the Asiarchs [presidents of athletic
games in Asia] who were his friends, also sent to him and
warned him not to risk venturing into the theater.
ACTS 19 505
32 Now some shouted one thing and some another,
for the gathering was in a tumult, and most of them did
not know why they had come together.
33. Some of the crowd called upon Alexander [to
speak], since the Jews had pushed and urged him for-
ward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, wishing
to make a defense and [was about] to apologize to the
people.
34 But as soon as they saw him and recognized that
he was a Jew, a shout went up from them as the voice
of one man, as for about two hours they cried, Great is
Artemis of the Ephesians!
35. And when the town clerk had calmed the crowd
down, he said, Men of Ephesus, what man is there who
does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian
of the temple of the great Artemis, and of the sacred
stone [image of her] that fell from the sky?
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied,
vou ought (to keep yourselves in check,.) be quiet and do
nothing rashly.
37 For you have brought these men here, [who are
guilty] neither of temple robberies nor of blasphemous
speech about our goddess.
38 Now then, if Demetrius and his fellow tradesmen
who are with him have a grievance against any one,
the courts are open, and proconsuls are [available]; let
them bring charges against one another [legally].
39 But if you require anything about this further
gr "about other matters, it must be decided and cleared
up in the regular assembly.
*Alrernate reading.
506 ACTS 20
40 For we are in danger of being called to render
an account and of being accused of rioting because of
[this commotion] today, there being no reason that we
can offer to justify this disorder.
41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed
the assembly.
CHAPTER 20
FTER the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the
disciples and warned and consoled and urged and
encouraged them; then he embraced them and told them
farewell, and set forth on his journey to Macedonia.
2 Then after he had gone through those districts
and had warned and consoled and urged and encouraged
the brethren with much discourse, he came to Greece.
3 Having spent three months there, when a plot
was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to
set sail for Syria, he resolved to go back through Mace-
donia.
4 He was accompanied by Sopater, the son of
Pyrrhus from Beroea; and by the Thessalonians, Aristar-
chus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy;
and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.
5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at
Troas,
6 But we [ourselves] sailed from Philippi after the
days of Unleavened Bread [the Passover week], and in
five days we joined them at Troas, where we remained
for seven days.
7 And on the first day of the week, when we were
ACTS 20 507
assembled together to break bread [*the Lord’s Supper],
Paul discoursed with them, intending to leave the next
morning; and he kept on with his message until midnight.
8 Now there were numerous lights in the upper
room where we were assembled,
9 And there was a young man named Eutychus sit-
ting in the window. He was borne down with deep sleep
as Paul kept on talking still longer, and [finally] com-
pletely overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third
story, and was picked up dead.
10 But Paul went down and bent over him and
embraced him, saying, Make no ado; his life is within
him.
11 When Paul had gone back upstairs and had
broken bread and eaten [with them], and after he had
(talked confidentially,) communing with them for con-
siderable time, until daybreak [in fact], he departed.
12 They took the youth home alive, and were not
a little comforted and cheered and refreshed and en-
couraged.
13 But going on before to the ship, the rest of us
set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there,
for that was what he had directed, intending himself
to go by land —on foot.
11 So when he met us at Assos, we took him aboard
and sailed on to Mitylene.
15 And sailing from there, we arrived the day after
at a point opposite Chios; the following day we struck
across to Samos, and the next day we arrived at Miletus.
16 For Paul had determined to sail on past Ephesus,
"Thayer.
508 ACTS 20
lest he might have to spend time [unnecessarily] in {the
province of] Asia; for he was hastening on that he might
reach Jerusalem, if at all possible, by the day of Pentecost.
17 However from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and
summoned the elders of the church [to come to him
there].
18 And when they arrived he said to them: You
yourselves are well acquainted with my manner of living
among you from the first day that I set foot in [the
province of] Asia, and how I continued afterward,
19 Serving the Lord with all humility in tears
and in the midst of adversity (affliction) and trials which
befell me, due to the plots of the Jews [against me];
20 How I did not shrink from telling you anything
that was for your benefit, and teaching you in public
meetings and from house to house,
21 But constantly and earnestly I bore testimony
both to Jews and Greeks, urging them to turn in re-
pentance [*that is due] to God and have the faith in
our Lord Jesus Christ [*that is due Him].
22 And now, you see, I am going to Jerusalem,
bound by the CHoly) Spirit, and obligated and com-
pelled by the [convictions of my own] spirit, not know-
ing what will befall me there;
23 Except that the Holy Spirit clearly and emphati-
cally affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment
and suffering await me.
24 But none of these things move me; neither do I
esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my
course with joy, and the ministry which I have obtained
[entrusted to me by] the Lord Jesus, faithfully to
®Vincent. bAlternate reading.
ACTS 20 509
attest the good news (Gospel) of God’s grace — His un-
merited favor, spiritual blessing and mercy.
25 And now, observe, I perceive that all of you,
among whom I have gone in and out proclaiming the
kingdom, will see my face no more.
26 Therefore I testify and protest to you on this [our
parting] day that I am clean and innocent and not re-
sponsible for the blood of any of you.
27 For J never shrank or kept back or fell short from
declaring to you the whole purpose and plan and counsel
of God.
28 Take care and be on guard for yourselves and
the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed
you bishops and guardians, to shepherd the church (that
is, tend and feed and guide the church) of the Lord
*¢God) which He obtained for Himself — buying it and
saving it [for Himself] — with His own blood.
29 I know that after I am gone ferocious wolves will
get in among you, not sparing the flock;
30 Even from among your own selves men will
come to the front, who by saying perverse (distorted and
corrupt, things will endeavor to draw away the disciples
after them [to their own party].
31 Therefore be alwavs alert and on your guard,
being mindful that for three years I never stopped night
or day seriously to admonish and advise and exhort you
one by one with tears.
32 And now, brethren, | commit you to God — that
is, 1 deposit you in Fis charge, entrusting you to His
protection and care. And I commend you to the Word
®*Many ancient authorities read “οὐ God.”
510 ACTS 21
of His grace—to the commands and counsels and
promises of His unmerited favor. It is able to build
you up and to give you [your rightful] inheritance among
all God’s set-apart ones — those consecrated, purified and
transformed of soul.
33. I coveted no man’s silver or gold or [costly] gar-
ments.
34 You yourselves know personally that these hands
ministered to my own needs and those [of the persons]
who were with me.
35 In everything I have pointed out to you [by ex-
ample] that, by working diligently thus we ought to
assist the weak, being mindful of the words of the Lord
Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed — makes
one happier and more *to be envied — to give than to
receive.
36 Having spoken thus, he knelt down with them
all and prayed.
37 And they all wept freely and threw their arms
around Paul’s neck and kissed him fervently and re-
peatedly,
38 Being especially distressed and sorrowful because
he had stated that they were about to see his face no
more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
CHAPTER 21
ND when we had torn ourselves away from them
and withdrawn, we set sail and made a straight
run to Cos, and on the following [day came] to Rhodes,
and from there to Patara.
«Souter.
ACTS 21 511
2 There we found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,
so we went aboard, and sailed away.
3 After we had sighted Cyprus, leaving it on our
left we sailed on to Syria and put in at Tyre, for there
the ship was to unload her cargo.
4 And having looked up the disciples there, we re-
mained with them for seven days. Prompted by the
CHoly) Spirit they kept telling Paul not to set foot in
Jerusalem.
5 But when our time there was ended, we left and
proceeded on our journey; and all of them with their
wives and children accompanied us on our way till we
were outside the city. ‘There we knelt down on the beach
and prayed.
6 ‘Then when we had told one another farewell we
went on board the ship, and they returned tu their
own homes.
7 When we had completed the voyage from Tyre,
we landed at Ptolemais, where we paid our respects to
the brethren and remained with them for one day.
8 On the morrow we left there and came to Caesarea;
and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist,
who was one of the seven [first deacons], and stayed
with him. [Acts 6:5.]
9 And he had four maiden daughters who had the
gift of prophecy.
10 While we were remaining there for some time,
a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 And coming to [see] us, he took Paul’s belt and
with it bound his own feet and hands, and said, Thus
says the Holy Spirit, Ihe Jews at Jerusalem shall bind
512 ACTS .21
like this the man who owns this belt, and they shall
deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles (heathen).
12 When we heard this, both we and the residents
of that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul replied, What do you mean by weep-
ing and breaking my heart like this? For I hold myself
in readiness not only to be arrested and bound and im-
prisoned at Jerusalem, but also [even] to die for the
name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when he would not yield to [our] persuad-
ing, we stopped [urging and imploring him], saying,
The Lord’s will be done!
15 After these days we packed our baggage and went
up to Jerusalem.
16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea came
with us, conducting us to the house of Mnason, a man
from Cyprus, one of the disciples of long standing, with
whom we were to lodge.
17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren re-
ceived and welcomed us gladly.
18 On the next day Paul went in with us to [see]
James, and all the elders of the church were present
[also].
19 After saluting them, Paul gave a detailed account
of the things God had done among the Gentiles through
his ministry.
20 And upon hearing it, they adored and exalted
and praised and thanked God. And they said to [Paul],
You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there
are among the Jews, and all of them are enthusiastic
upholders of the [Mosaic] Law.
ACTS 21 513
21 Now they have been informed about you that
you continually teach all the Jews who live among the
Gentiles to turn back from and forsake Moses, advising
them not to circumcise their children or pay any attention
to the observance of the [Mosaic] customs.
22 What then [is it best] should be done? A multi-
tude will come together, for they will surely hear that
you have arrived.
23 Therefore do just what we tell you. With us are
four men who have taken a vow upon themselves.
24 ‘Take these men and purify yourself along with
them, and pay their expenses [for the temple offering},
so that they may have their heads shaved. Thus every-
body will know that there is no truth in what they
have been told about you, but that you yourself walk in
observance of the Law.
25 But with regard to the Gentiles who have be-
lieved — adhered to, trusted in and relied on Christ ~ we
have sent them a letter with our decision that they
should keep themselves free from anything that has been
sacrificed to idols and from [tasting] blood and [the meat
of animals] which have been strangled and from all im-
purity and sexual immorality.
26 Then Paul took the [four] men with him and
the following day [he went through the rites of] purify-
ing himself along with them. And they entered the
temple to give notice when the days of purification Cthe
ending of each vow) would be fulfilled and the usual
offering could be presented on behalf of each of them.
27 When the seven days were drawing to a close,
some of the Jews from [the province of] Asia, who had
514 ACTS 21
caught sight of Paul in the temple, incited all the rabble,
and laid hands on him,
28 Shouting, Men of Israel, help! [help!] This is
the man who is teaching everybody everywhere against
the people and the Law and this place! Moreover he
has also [actually] brought Greeks into the temple; he
has desecrated and polluted this holy place!
29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the
Ephesian in the city with Paul and they supposed that
he had brought the man into the temple — [that is], into
the inner court [forbidden to Gentiles].
30 Then the whole city was aroused and thrown
into confusion, and the people rushed together; they laid
hands on Paul and dragged him outside the temple, and
immediately the gates were closed.
31 Now while they were trying to kill him, word
came to the commandant of the regular Roman garrison
that the whole of Jerusalem was in a state of ferment.
32 So immediately he took soldiers and centurions
and hurried down among them; and when the people
saw the commandant and the troops, they stopped beat-
ing Paul.
33 Then the commandant approached and arrested
Paul, and ordered that he be secured with two chains.
He then inquired who he was and what he had done.
34 Some in the crowd kept shouting back one thing
and others something else, and since he could not ascer-
tain the facts because of the furore, he ordered that Paul
be removed to the barracks.
35 And when [Paul] came to mount the steps, he
ACTS 22 515
was actually being carried by the soldiers because of the
violence of the mob;
36 For the mass of the people kept following them,
shouting, Away with him! — Kill him!
37 Just as Paul was about to be taken into the bar-
tacks, he asked the commandant, May I say something
to vou? And the man replied, Can you speak Greek?
38 Are you not then [as I supposed] the Egyptian
who not long ago stirred up a rebellion and led those
four thousand men of the cutthroats out into the wilder-
ness?
39 Paul answered, I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia,
a citizen of no insignificant or undistinguished city. I
beg you, allow me to address the people.
40 And when the man had granted him permission,
Paul, standing on the steps, gestured with his hand to
the people; and there was a great hush. Then he spoke
to them in the Hebrew dialect, saying:
CHAPTER 22
. and fathers, listen to the defense which
I now make in your presence.
2 And when they heard that he addressed them in
the Hebrew tongue, they were all the more quiet. And
he continued,
3 I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but reared
in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated ac-
cording to the strictest care in the Law of our fathers,
being ardent — even a zealot — for God, as all you are
today.
4 [Yes], I harassed (troubled, molested and perse-
516 ACTS 22
cuted) this Way [of the Lord] to the death, putting in
chains and committing to prison both men and women,
5 As the high priest and whole council of elders
[Sanhedrin] can testify; for from them indeed I received
letters with which 1 was on my way to the brethren
in Damascus in order to take also those [believers] who
were there, and bring them in chains to Jerusalem that
they might be punished.
6 But as I was on my journey and approached
Damascus, about noon a great blaze of light flashed sud-
denly from heaven and shone about me.
7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying
to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me — harass
and trouble and molest Me?
8 And I replied, Who are You, Lord? And He said
to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, Whom you are perse-
cuting.
9 Now the men who were with me saw the light,
but they did not hear [*the sound of the uttered words
of] the voice of the One Who was speaking to me — so
that they could "understand it.
10 And I asked, What shall I do, Lord? And the
Lord answered me, Get up and go into Damascus, and
there it will be told you all that it is destined and ap-
pointed for you to do.
11 And since I could not see, because (of the daz-
zlingly glorious intensity.) of the brightness of that light,
I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and
[thus] I arrived in Damascus.
12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to
*Thayer. bVincent.
ACTS 22 517
the Law, well spoken of by all the Jews who resided
there,
13 Came to see me, and standing by my side said
to me, Brother Saul, "look up — and receive back your
sight. And in that very "instant I [recovered my sight
and} looking up saw him.
14 And he said, The God of our forefathers has des-
tined and appointed you to come progressively to know
His will — that is, to perceive, to recognize more strongly
and clearly and to become better and more intimately ac-
quainted with His will; and to see the Righteous One
Jesus Christ, the Messiah and to hear a voice from His
[own] mouth and a message from His [own] lips;
15 For you will be His witness unto all men of
everything that you have scen and heard.
16 And now, why do you delay? Rise and be bap-
tized, and ‘by calling upon His name wash away your
sins.
17 Then when I had come back to Jerusalem and
was praying in the temple ‘enclosure, I fell into a trance
—an ecstasy;
18 And I saw Him as He said to me, Hurry, get
quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive
your testimony about Me.
19 And I said, Lord, they themselves well know that
throughout all the synagogues I cast into prison and
Hogged those who believed — who adhered to and trusted
in and relied — on You.
20 And when the blood of Your (martyr) witness
Stephen was shed, I also was personally standing by and
«Thayer. bMoulton and Milligan.
*Williams: Adverbial participle of means. 4Treach.
518 ACTS 22
consenting axd approving, and guarding the garments
of those who slew him.
21 And the Lord said to me, Go, for 1 will send you
far away unto the Gentiles (nations).
22 Up to the moment that Paul made this last state-
ment, the people listened to him; but now they raised
their voices and shouted, Away with such a fellow from
the earth! He is not fit to live!
23 And as they were shouting and tossing and wav-
ing their garments and throwing dust into the air,
24 ‘The commandant ordered that Paul be brought
into the barracks, and that he be examined by scourging,
in order that [the commandant] might learn why the
people cried out thus against him.
25 But when they had stretched him out with the
thongs [leather straps], Paul asked the centurion who
was standing by, Is it legal for you to flog a man who is
a Roman citizen, and without a trial Cuncondemned)?
26 When the centurion heard that, he went to the
commandant and said to him, What are you about to do?
This man is a Roman citizen!
27 So the commandant came and said to [Paul], Tell
me, are you a Roman citizen? And he said, Yes [indeed ]!
28 ‘The commandant replied, I purchased this citizen-
ship (as a capital investment) for a big price. Paul said,
But I was [Roman] born!
29 Instantly those who were about to examine (and
flog) him withdrew from him; and the commandant also
was frightened, for he realized that [Paul] was a Roman
citizen and he had put him in chains.
30 But the next day, desiring to know the real cause
ACTS 23 519
for which the Jews accused him, he unbound him and
ordered the chief priests and all the council [Sanhedrin]
to assemble, and he brought Paul down and placed him
before them.
CHAPTER 23
HEN Paul, gazing earnestly at the council [San-
hedrin], said, Brethren, I have lived before God,
doing my duty with a perfectly good conscience until
this very day — “as a citizen, a true and loyal Jew.
2 At this the high priest Ananias ordered those who
stood near him to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, God is about to strike you,
you whitewashed wall! Do you sit as a judge to try me
in accordance with the Law, and yet in defiance of the
Law you order me to be struck?
4 Those who stood near exclaimed, Do you rail at
and insult the high priest of God?
5 And Paul said, I was not conscious, brethren, that
he is a high priest; for the Scripture says, You shall
not speak ill of a ruler of your people. [Ex. 22:28.]
6 But Paul, when he perceived that one part of
them were Sadducees and the other part Pharisees, cried
out to the council [Sanhedrin], Brethren, J am a Phari-
see, a son of Pharisees; it is with regard to the hope
and the resurrection of the dead that I am indicted and
being judged.
7 So when he had said this, an angry dispute arose
between the Pharisecs and the Sadducees; and the whole
[crowded] assemblage was divided [into two factions].
“Vincent.
520 ACTS 23
8 For the Sadducees hold that there is no resurrec-
tion, nor angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees declare
openly and speak out freely, acknowledging [their faith
in] them both.
9 Then a great uproar ensued, and some of the
scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and thoroughly
fought the case, (contending fiercely.) and declaring, We
find nothing evil or wrong in this man. But if a spirit
or an angel [really] spoke to him—? Let us not fight
against God!
10 And when the strife became more and more
tense and violent, the commandant, fearing that Paul
would be torn in pieces by them, ordered the troops to
go down and take him forcibly from among them and
conduct him back into the barracks.
11 And [that same] following night the Lord stood
beside Paul and said, Take courage, Paul, for as you
have borne faithful witness concerning Me at Jerusalem,
so you must also bear witness at Rome.
12 Now when daylight came, the Jews formed a
plot and bound themselves by an oath and under a curse
neither to eat nor drink till they had done away with
Paul.
13 There were more than forty [men of them], who
formed this conspiracy — swearing together this oath and
curse.
14 And they went to the chief priests and elders
saying, We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath and
under a curse not to taste any food until we have slain
Paul.
15 So now, you along with the council [Sanhedrin]
ACTS 23 521
give notice to the commandant to bring [Paul] down to
you, as if you were going to investigate his case more
accurately. But we [ourselves] are ready to slay him
before he comes near.
16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their intended
attack, and he went and got into the barracks and told
Paul.
17 Then Paul, calling in one of the centurions, said,
Take this young man to the commandant, for he has
something to report to him.
18 So he took him and conducted him to the com-
mandant and said, Paul the prisoner called me to him
and requested me to conduct this young man to you, for
he has something to report to you.
19 The commandant took him by the hand, and
going aside with him asked privately, What is it that
you have to report to me?
20 And he replied, The Jews have agreed to ask
you to bring Paul down to the council [Sanhedrin]
tomorrow, as if [they were] intending to examine him
more exactly.
21 But do not yield to their persuasion, for more
than forty of their men are lying in ambush waiting for
him, having bound themselves by an oath and under a
curse neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him;
and even now they are all ready, [just] waiting for your
promise.
22 So the commandant sent the youth away, charg-
ing him, Do not disclose to any one that you have given
me this information.
23 Then summoning two of the centurions, he said,
522 ACTS 23
Have two hundred footmen ready by the third hour of
tonight (about nine o'clock) to go as far as Caesarea,
with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.
24 Also provide beasts for mounts for Paul to ride,
and bring him in safety to Felix the governor.
25 And he wrote a letter having this message:
26 Claudius Lysias sends greetings to His Excellency
Felix the governor.
27 ‘This man was seized [as prisoner] by the Jews,
and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon
them with the troops and rescued him, because I learned
that he is a Roman citizen.
28 And wishing to know the exact accusation which
they were making against him, I brought him down
before their council [Sanhedrin],
29 [Where] I found that he was charged in regard
to questions of their own law, but he was accused of
nothing that would call for death or [even] for imprison-
ment.
30 [However] when it was pointed out to me that
there would be a conspiracy against the man, I sent him
to you immediately, directing his accusers also to present
before you their charge against him.
31 So. the soldiers, in compliance with their instruc-
tions, took Paul and conducted him during the night
to Antipatris.
32 And the next day they returned to the barracks,
leaving the mounted men to proceed with him.
33 When these came to Caesarea and gave the letter
to the governor, they also presented Paul before him.
34 Having read the letter, he asked to what kind
ACTS 24 523
of a province [Paul] belonged. When he discovered
that he was from Cilicia [an imperial province],
35 He said, I will hear your case "fully when your
accusers also have come. And he ordered that an eye
be kept on him in Herod’s palace — the praetorium.
CHAPTER 24
IVE days later, the high priest Ananias came down
[from Jerusalem to Caesarea] with some elders, and
a certain forensic advocate Tertullus — acting as spokes-
man and counsel. They presented to the governor their
evidence against Paul.
2 And when he was called, Tertullus began the
complaint [against him] by saying:
3. Most Excellent Felix, since through you we obtain
and enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight and
provision wonderful reforms Camendments and improve-
ments) are introduced and effected on behalf of this
nation, in every way and in every place we accept and
acknowledge this with deep appreciation and with all
gratitude.
4 But not to hinder or detain you too long, I beg
you in your clemency and courtesy and kindness to grant
us a brief and "concise hearing.
5 For we have found this man a perfect pest —a real
plague — an agitator and source of disturbance to al! the
Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the
Cheretical, *division-producing) sect of the Nazarenes.
6 He also [even] tried to desecrate and defile the
temple, but we laid hands on him
bVincent,
524 ACTS 24
7 And would have sentenced him by our Law, but
the commandant Lysias came and took him from us with
violence and force, and ordered his accusers to present
themselves to you.
8 By examining and cross-questioning him yourself
you will be able to ascertain the truth from him about all
these things with which we charge him.
9 The Jews also agreed and joined in the accusation,
declaring that all these things were exactly so.
10 And when the governor had beckoned to Paul
to speak, he answered: Because I know that for many
years you have been a judge over this nation, I find it
easier to make my defense, and do it cheerfully and with
good courage.
1] As you can readily verify, it is not more than
twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship;
12 And neither in the temple nor in the synagogues
nor in the city did they find me disputing with anybody
or bringing together a seditious crowd.
13. Neither can they present argument or evidence to
prove to you what they now bring against me.
14 But this I confess to you, however, that in ac-
cordance with the Way [of the Lord], which they call
Can heretical, division-producing) sect, I worship (serve)
the God of our fathers, still persuaded of the truth of
and believing and placing full confidence in everything
laid down in the Law [of Moses] or written in the
prophets;
15 Having [the same] hope in God which these
themselves hold and look for, that there is to be a resur-
rection both of the righteous and the unrighteous — the
just and the unjust.
ACTS 24 525
16 Therefore I always exercise and discipline myself
— mortifying my body [deadening my carnal affections,
bodily appetites and worldlv desires], endeavoring in
all respects—to have a clear Cunshaken, blameless)
conscience, void of offense toward God and toward men.
17 Now after several years I came up to bring to my
race contributions of charity and offerings.
18 While I was engaged in presenting these, they
found me [occupied in the rites of] purification in the
temple, without any crowd or uproar. But some Jews
from [the province of] Asia [were there],
19 Who ought to be here before you and to present
their charges, if they have anything against me.
20 Or else let these men themselves tell of what
crime or wrongdoing they found me guilty when I ap-
peared before the council [Sanhedrin],
21 Unless it be this one sentence which I cried out
as 1 stood among them, In regard to the resurrection of
the dead I am indicted and on trial before you this day!
22 But Felix, having a rather accurate understanding
of the Way [of the Lord], put them off and adjourned
the trial, saying, When Lysias the commandant comes
down, | will determine your case more fully.
23 Then he ordered the centurion to keep [Paul] in
custody, but to treat him with indulgence — giving him
some liberty — and not to hinder his friends from minis-
tering to his needs and serving him.
24 Some days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla,
who was a Jewess; and he sent for Paul and listened to
him [talk] about faith in Christ Jesus.
25 But as he continued to argue about uprightness,
526 ACTS 25
purity of life — the control of the passions — and the judg-
ment to come, Felix became alarmed and terrihed and
said, Go away for the present; when I have a convenient
opportunity I will send for you.
26 At the same time he hoped to get money from
Paul, for which reason he continued to send for him,
and was in his company and conversed with him often.
27 But when two years had gone by, Felix was
succeeded in office by Porcius Festus, and wishing to
gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul still a prisoner
in chains.
CHAPTER 25
OW when Festus had entered into his own province,
after three days he went up from Caesarea to
Jerusalem.
2 And [there] the chief priests and the principal men
of the Jews laid charges before him against Paul, and
they kept begging and urging him,
3. Asking as a favor that he would have him brought
to Jerusalem; [meanwhile] they were planning an am-
bush to slay him on the way.
4 Festus answered that Paul was in custody in
Caesarea and that he himself planned to leave for there
soon.
5 So, said he, let those who are in a position of
authority and are influential among you go down with
me, and if there is anything amiss or criminal about the
man, let them so charge him.
6 So when Festus had remained among them not
more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea,
ACTS 25 527
took his seat next day on the judgment bench and
ordered Paul to be brought before him.
7 And when he arrived, the Jews who had come
down from Jerusalem stood all around him, bringing
many grave accusations against him which they were
not able to prove.
8 Paul declared in [his own] defense, Neither against
the Law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against
Caesar have I offended in any way.
9 But Festus, wishing to ingratiate himself with the
Jews, answered Paul, Are you willing to go up to Jeru-
salem, and there be put on trial [*before the Jewish
Sanhedrin] in my presence concerning these charges?
10 But Paul replied, I am standing before Caesar’s
judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I
have done no wrong, as you know °*better [than your
question implies].
11 If then I am a wrongdoer and a criminal, and
have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I
do not beg off aid seek to escape death; but if there is no
ground for their accusations against me, no one can give
me up and ’make a present of me to them. I appeal to
Caesar.
12 Then Festus, when he had consulted with the
("men who formed his] council, answered, You have ap-
pealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.
13. Now after an interval of some days, Agrippa the
king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects
to Festus — to welcome him and wish him well.
14 And while they remained there for many days,
*Vincent. bAbbott-Smith: ‘‘bestow, give freely.”
528 ACTS 25
Festus acquainted the king with Paul’s case, telling him,
There is a man left a prisoner in chains by Felix;
15 And when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests
and the elders of the Jews informed me about him,
petitioning for a judicial hearing and condemnation of
him.
16 But I replied to them that it was not the custom
of the Romans to give up freely any man for punishment
before the accused had met the accusers face to face,
and had opportunity to defend himself concerning the
charge brought against him.
17 So when they came here together, I did not
delay, but on the morrow took my place on the judgment
seat and ordered that the man be brought before me.
18 [But] when the accusers stood up, they brought
forward no accusation [in his case] of any such miscon-
duct as I was expecting.
19 Instead they had some points of controversy with
him about their own religion or superstition and con-
cerning one Jesus, Who had died, but Whom Paul kept
asserting [over and over] to be alive.
20 And I, being puzzled to know how to make in-
quiries into such questions, asked whether he would be
willing to go to Jerusalem and there be tried regarding
them.
21 But when Paul had appealed to have his case re-
tained for examination and decision by the emperor, I
ordered that he be detained until I could send him to
Caesar.
22 ‘Then Agrippa said to Festus, I am also desiring
ACTS 26 529
to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, [Festus] replied,
you shall hear him.
23 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice approached
with great display, and they went into the audience
hall accompanied by the military commandants and the
prominent citizens of the city. At the order of Festus
Paul was brought in.
24 Then Festus said, King Agrippa and all the men
present with us, you see this man about whom the
whole Jewish people came to me and complained, both
at Jerusalem and here, insisting and shouting that he
ought not to live any longer.
25 But I found nothing that he had done deserving
of death. Still, as he himself appealed to the emperor,
I determined to send him to Rome.
26 [However] I have nothing in particular and def-
nite to write to my lord concerning him. So I have
brought him before you all, and especially before you,
King Agrippa, that, after [further] examination has been
made, I may have something to put in writing.
27 For it seems to me senseless and absurd to send
a prisoner and not state the accusations against him.
CHAPTER 26
HEN Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to
speak on your own behalf. At that Paul stretched
forth his hand and made his defense [as follows]:
2 I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that it
is before you that I am to make my defense today in re-
gard to all the charges brought against me by [the] Jews,
3 [Especially] because you are so fully and unusually
530 ACTS 26
conversant with all [the] Jewish customs and contro-
versies; therefore, I beg you to hear me patiently.
4 My behavior and manner of living from my youth
up is known by all the Jews; [they are aware] that from
[its] commencement my youth was spent among my own
race at Jerusalem.
5 They have had knowledge of me for a long time,
if they are willing to testify to it, that in accordance
with the [very] strictest sect of our religion I have lived
as a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand here on trial (to be judged on the
ground) of the hope of that promise made to our fore-
fathers by God, [See Acts 13:32, 33.]
7 Which hope [of the Messiah and the resurrection]
our twelve tribes confidently expect to realize, as they
fervently worship (without ceasing) night and day. And
for that hope, O king, I am accused by Jews and as a
criminal!
8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that
God raises the dead?
9 I myself indeed was [once] persuaded that it was
my duty to do many things contrary to and in defiance
of the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem; I [not only]
shut up many of the faithful holy ones in prison by
virtue of authority received from the chief priests, but
when they were being condemned to death I cast my vote
against them.
11 And frequently I punished them in all the syna-
gogues to make them blaspheme; and in my bitter fury
ACTS 26 53]
zainst them, I harassed (troubled, molested, persecuted)
ud pursued them even to foreign cities.
12 ‘Thus engaged I proceeded to Damascus with the
ithority and orders of the chief priests,
13 When on the road at midday, O king, I saw a
ght from heaven surpassing the brightness of the sun,
ashing about me and those who were traveling with me.
14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I
eard a voice in the Hebrew tongue saying to me, Saul,
aul, why do you continue to persecute Me — to harass
nd trouble and molest Me? It is dangerous and turns
it badly for you to keep kicking against the goads —
that is,] to offer vain and perilous resistance.
15 And I said, Who are You, Lord? And the Lord
tid, 1 am Jesus Whom you are persecuting.
16 But arise and stand upon your feet; for I have
ppeared to you for this purpose, that I might appoint
ou to serve as [My] minister and to bear witness both to
that you have seen of Me and to that in which I will
ppear to you,
17 ‘Choosing you out (selecting you for Myself) and
lelivering you from among this [Jewish] people and
ie Gentiles to whom IJ am sending you, [Ezek. 2:1, 3.]
18 To open their eyes, that they may turn from dark-
ess to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that
1ev may thus receive forgiveness and release from their
ns and a place and portion among those who are con-
scrated and purihed by faith in Me. [lIs. 42:7, 16.]
19 Wherefore, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient
nto the heavenly vision,
Thayer. ¢Abbott-Smith.
532 ACTS 26
20 But made known openly first of all to those at
Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the whole-
land of Judea, and also among the Gentiles, that they
should repent and turn to God and do works and live
lives consistent with and worthy of their repentance.
21 Because of these things the Jews seized me in the
temple ‘enclosure and tried to do away with me.
22 [But] to this day I have had the help which comes
from God (as my fally), and so I stand here testifying to
small and great alike, asserting nothing beyond what
the prophets and Moses declared would come to pass;
23 That the Christ, the Anointed One, must suffer;
and that He, by being the first to rise from the dead,
would declare and show light both to the [Jewish]
people and to the Gentiles.
24 And as he thus proceeded with his defense, Festus
called out loudly, Paul, you are mad! Your great learning
is driving you insane!
25 But Paul replied, 1 am not mad, most noble
Festus, but J am uttering the straight, sound truth.
26 For the king understands about these things well
enough, and [therefore] to him I speak with bold frank-
ness and confidence. I am convinced that not one of
these things has escaped his notice, for all this did not
take place in a corner — in secret.
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? — Do
you give credence to God’s messengers and their words?
I perceive and know that you do believe.
28 ‘Then Agrippa said to Paul, You think it a small
‘Trench. tcf. Abbott-Smith.
ACTS 27 533
sk to make a Christian of me — just off hand to induce
e with little ado and persuasion, at very short notice.
29 And Paul replied, Whether short or long, I would
' God that not only you but also all who are listening
}me today might become such as I am, except for these
1a1Ns.
30 ‘Then the king arose, and the governor and Ber-
ice and all those who were seated with them;
3] And after they had gone out, they said to one
10ther, This man is doing nothing deserving of death
- [even] of imprisonment.
32 And Agrippa said to Festus, This man could
ave been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar.
CHAPTER 27
OW when it was determined that we should sail
.N for Italy, they turned Paul and some other prisoners
ver to a centurion of the imperial regiment, named
jlius.
2 And going aboard a ship of Adramyttium, which
‘as about to sail for the ports along the coast of [the
rovince of] Asia, we put out to sea, and Aristarchus, a
facedonian from Thessalonica, accompanied us.
3. The following day we landed at Sidon, and Julius
eated Paul in a man-loving way, with much considera-
on (kindness and care), permitting him to go to his
iends [there] and be refreshed and be cared for.
4 After putting to sea from there we passed to the
eward [south side] of Cyprus [for protection], for the
rinds were contrary to us.
5 And when we had sailed over [the whole length]
594 ACTS 27
of sea which lies of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we reached
Myra in Lycia.
6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship
bound for Italy, and he transferred us to it.
7 For a number of days we made slow progress, and
arrived with difhculty off Cnidus; then, as the wind did
not permit us to proceed, we went under the lee (shelter)
of Crete off Salmone,
8 And coasting along it with difficulty, we arrived
at a place called Fair Havens, near which is located the
town of Lasea.
9 But [as the season was well advanced], for much
time had been lost and navigation was already dangerous,
for the time for the Fast [the day of Atonement, about
the middle of September] had already gone by, Paul
warned and advised them,
10 Saying, Sirs, I perceive [after careful observation]
that this voyage will be attended with disaster and much
heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship but of our
lives also.
11 However, the centurion paid greater attention to
the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what
Paul said.
12 And as the harbor was not well situated and so
unsuitable to winter in, the majority favored the plan
of putting to sea again from there, hoping somehow to
reach Phoenice, a harbor of Crete facing northeast and
southeast, and winter there.
13. So when the south wind blew softly, supposing
they were gaining their object, they weighed anchor and
sailed along Crete, hugging the coast.
ACTS 27 535
14 But soon afterward a violent wind [of the charac-
ter of a typhoon] called a northeaster, came bursting
down from the island.
15 And when the ship was caught and was unable
to head against the wind, we gave up and letting her
drift were borne along.
16 We ran under the shelter of a small island called
Cauda, where we managed with [much] difficulty to
draw the [ship’s small] boat on deck and secure it.
17 After hoisting it on board, they used supports
with ropes to undergird and brace the ship; then afraid
that they would be driven into the Syrtis [quicksands
off the north coast of Africa], they lowered the gear
[sails and ropes], and so were driven along.
18 As we were being dangerously tossed about by
the violence of the storm, the next day they began to
throw the freight overboard;
19 And the third day they threw out with their own
hands the ship’s equipment — the tackle avd ihe furniture.
20 And when neither sun nor stars were visible for
many days, and no small tempest kept raging about us,
all hope of our being saved was finally abandoned.
21 Then as they had eaten nothing for a long time,
Paul came forward into their midst and said, Men, you
should have listened to me, and should not have put to
sea from Crete and brought on this disaster and harm
and misery and loss.
22 But [even] now 1 beg you be in good spirits and
take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you
but only of the ship.
23 For this [very] night there stood by my side an
536 ACTS 27
angel of the God to Whom I belong and Whom I serve
and worship,
24 And he said, Do not be frightened, Paul! It is
necessary for you to stand before Caesar; and behold,
God has given you all those who are sailing with you.
25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith —
complete confidence — in God that it will be exactly as
it was told me;
26 But we shall have to be stranded on some island.
27 The fourteenth night had come and we were
drifting and being driven about in the Adriatic Sea,
when about midnight the sailors began to suspect that
they were drawing near to some land.
28 So they took soundings and found twenty fathoms,
and a little farther on they sounded again and found
fifteen fathoms.
29 Then fearing that we might fall off [our course]
onto rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern,
and kept wishing for daybreak to come.
30 And, as the sailors were trying to escape [secretly]
from the ship, and were lowering the small boat into
the sea, pretending that they were going to lay out
anchors from the bow,
31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, Unless
these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.
32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes that held
the small boat, and let it fall and drift away.
33 While they waited until it should become day,
Paul entreated them all to take some food, saying, This
is the fourteenth day that you have been continually in
ACTS 27 537
uspense and on the alert without food, having eaten
1othing.
34 Sol! urge you to take some food for your safety —
t will give you strength; for not a hair is to perish from
he head of any one of you.
35 Having said these words, he took bread, and
riving thanks to God before them all he broke it and
egan to eat.
36 Then they all became more cheerful and were
ncouraged and took food themselves.
37 All told, there were *two hundred and seventy-
ix souls of us in the ship.
38 And after they had eaten sufficiently, [they pro-
‘eeded] to lighten the ship, throwing out the wheat
nto the sea.
39 Now when it was day [and they saw] the land,
hey did not recognize [it], but they noticed a bay with
| beach on which they — taking counsel — purposed to
un the ship ashore if they possibly could.
40 So they cut the cables and severed the anchors
ind left them in the sea; at the same time unlashing
he ropes that held the rudders, and hoisting the foresail
o the wind they headed for the beach.
41 But striking a crosscurrent — a place open to two
eas — they ran the ship aground. The prow stuck fast
ind remained immovable, and the stern began to break
ip under the violent force of the waves.
42 It was the counsel of the soldiers to kill the
yrisoners, lest any of them should swim to land and
‘scape;
Some ancient authorities read “seventy-six.”
538 ACTS 28
43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, prevented
their carrying out their purpose. He commanded those
who could swim to throw themselves overboard first and
make for the shore,
44 And the rest on heavy boards or pieces of the
vessel, And so it was that all escaped safely to land.
CHAPTER 28
FTER we were safe on the island, we knew and
recognized that it was called Malta.
2 And the natives showed us unusual and remarkable
kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed and re-
ceived us all, since it had begun to rain and was cold.
3 Now Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and
he was laying them on the fire, when a viper crawled out
because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.
4 When the natives saw the little animal hanging
from his hand, they said to one another, Doubtless this
man is a murderer, for though he has been saved from
the sea, Justice [*the goddess], avenging, has not per-
mitted that he should live.
5 Then [Paul simply] shook off the small creature
into the fire and suffered no evil effects.
6 However, they were waiting, expecting him to
swell up or suddenly drop dead; but when they had
watched him a long time and saw nothing fatal or harm-
ful come to him, they changed their minds and kept
saying over and over that he was a god.
7 In the vicinity of that place there were estates
belonging to the head man of the island, named Publius,
Ὁ Souter, Thayer.
ACTS 28 539
who accepted and welcomed and entertained us with
hearty hospitality for three days.
8 And it happened that the father of Publius was
sick in bed with recurring attacks of fever and dysen-
tery; and Paul went to see him, and after praying and
laying his hands on him he healed him.
9 After this had occurred, the other people on the
island who had diseases also kept coming and were cured.
10 ‘They showed us every respect, and presented
many gifts to us, "honoring us with many honors; and
when we sailed, they provided and put on [board our
ship] everything we needed.
11 It was after three months’ stay there that we set
sail in a ship which had wintered in the island, an
Alexandrian ship, with the Twin Brothers [Castor and
Pollux] as its figurehead.
12 We landed at Syracuse and remained there three
days,
13 And from there we made a circuit — following the
coast — and reached Rhegium, and one day laier a south
wind sprang up and the next day we arrived at Puteoli.
14 There we found some [Christian] brethren, and
were entreated to stay with them for seven days. And
so we came to Rome.
15 And the [Christian] brethren there, having had
news of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and the
Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he
thanked God and received new courage.
16 When we arrived at Rome, the centurion de-
livered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but
*Alternate reading.
540 ACTS 28
Paul was permitted to live by himself with the soldier
who guarded him.
17 Three days after [our arrival], he called together
the leading local Jews; and when they had gathered, he
said to them, Brethren, though I have done nothing
against the people or against the customs of our fore-
fathers, yet I was turned over as a prisoner from Jeru-
salem into the hands of the Romans.
18 After they had examined me, they were ready
to release me, because I was innocent of any offense
deserving the death penalty.
19 But when the Jews protested, I was forced to
appeal to Caesar, though it was not because I had any
charge to make against my nation.
20 This is the reason therefore why I have begged
to see you and to talk with you, since it is because of
the Hope of Israel [the Messiah] that I am bound with
this chain.
21 And they answered him, We have not received
any letters about you from Judea, and none of the
[Jewish] brethren coming here has reported or spoken
anything evil about you.
22 But we think it fitting and are eager to hear from
you what it is that you have in mind, and believe, and
what your opinion is, for with regard to this sect it is
known to all of us that it is everywhere denounced.
23 So when they had set a day with him, they came
in large numbers to his lodging. And he fully set forth
and explained the matter to them, from morning until
night, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to
ACTS 28 54]
persuade them concerning Jesus both from the Law of
Moses and from the prophets.
24 And some were convinced and believed what he
said, and others did not believe.
25 And as they disagreed among themselves, they
began to leave, [but not before] Paul had added one
statement [more]: The Holy Spirit was right in saying
through Isaiah the prophet to your forefathers:
26 Go to this people, and say to them, You will
indeed hear and hear with your ears, but will not under-
stand; and you will indeed look and look with your eyes,
but will not see — not perceive, have knowledge of or
become acquainted with what you look at, at all.
27 For the heart — the understanding, the soul — of
this people has grown dull (stupid, hardened and
calloused) and their ears are heavy and hard of hearing,
and they have shut tight their eves, so that they may not
perceive and have knowledge and become acquainted
with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand
with their souls, and turn (to Me, be converted) that I
may heal them. [ls. 6:9, 10.]
28 So let it be understood by you then that [this
message of] the salvation of God has been sent to the
Gentiles, and they will listen [to it]! [Ps. 67:2.]
29 And when he had said these things, the Jews
went away, arguing and disputing among themselves.
30 After this Paul lived there for two entire years
542 ACTS 28
at his own expense, "in his own rented lodging, and
he welcomed all who came to him,
31 Preaching to them the kingdom of God and teach-
ing them about the Lord Jesus Christ with boldness
and quite openly, and without being molested or hin-
dered. Amen -- 50 be it.
*Alternate reading.
THE LETTER OF PAUL
TO THE
ROMANS
CHAPTER 1
ROM Paul, a bond servant of Jesus Christ, the
Messiah, called to be an apostle, a (special messen-
ger) set apart to [preach] the Gospel (good news) of and
from God,
2 Which He promised in advance [long ago] through
His prophets in the sacred Scriptures,
3 [The Gospel] regarding His Son, Who as to the
flesh CHis human nature) was descended from David;
4 And [as to His divine nature] according to the
Spirit of holiness, was openly *designated the Son of God
in power —in a striking, triumphant and miraculous
manner — by Fis resurrection from the dead, even Jesus
Christ our Lord, the Messiah, the Anointed One.
5 It is through Him that we have received grace —
God’s unmerited favor — and [our] apostleship to pro-
mote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His
name’s sake among all the nations,
6 And this includes yourselves, called of Jesus Christ
and invited [as you are] to belong to Him.
7 To [you then,} all God’s beloved ones in Rome,
called to be saints and designated for a consecrated life:
Grace and spiritual blessing and peace be yours from
God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, 1 thank my God through Jesus Christ for
all of you, because [the report of] your faith is made
known to all the world and is "commended everywhere.
‘Vincent.
543
544 ROMANS 1
9 For God is my witness, Whom I serve with [all]
my spirit — rendering priestly and spiritual service — in
[preaching] the Gospel and telling the good news of His
Son, how incessantly I always mention you when at my
prayers.
10 I keep pleading that somehow by God's will I
may now at last be prospered and come to you.
11 For I am yearning to see you, that I may impart
and share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen and
establish you;
12 That is, that we may be mutually strengthened
and encouraged and comforted by each other’s faith, both
yours and mine.
13 I want you to know, brethren, that many times
I have planned and intended to come to you, though
thus far I have been hindered and prevented, in order
that | might have some fruit — some result of my labors
— among you, as I have among the rest of the Gentiles.
14 Both to Greeks and to barbarians Cto the cul-
tured and to the uncultured), both to the wise and the
foolish I have an obligation to discharge and a duty to
perform and a debt to pay.
15 So, for my part, I am willing and eagerly ready to
preach the Gospel to you also who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news)
of Christ; for it is God’s power working unto salvation
Cfor deliverance from eternal death) to every one who
believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender
and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,
ROMANS 1 545
17 For in the Gospel a righteousness which God
ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and lead-
ing to faith — disclosed through the way of faith that
arouses to more faith. As it is written, The man who
through faith is just and upright shall live and @shall live
by faith. [Hab. 2:4.]
18 For God’s [holy] wrath and indignation are re-
vealed from heaven against all ungodliness and un-
righteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and
hinder the truth avd make it inoperative.
19 For that which is known about God is evident to
them and made plain in their inner consciousness, be-
cause God [Himself] has shown it to them.
20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisi-
ble nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and
divinity have been made intelligible and clearly discern-
ible in and through the things that have been made —
Flis handiworks. So [men] are without excuse — alto-
gether without any defense or justification. [Ps. 19:1-4.]
21 Because when they knew and recognized Him
as the God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God,
or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and
'sodless in their thinking — with vain imaginings, foolish
reasoning and stupid speculations — and their senseless
minds were darkened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools — pro-
fessing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves.
23 And by them the glory and majesty and excellence
of the immortal God were. exchanged for and represented
“Alternate reading. bSouter.
546 ROMANS 1
by images, resembling mortal man and birds and beasts
and reptiles.
24 ‘Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their
[own] hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonoring of
their bodies among themselves, abandoning them to the
degrading power of sin.
25 Because they exchanged the truth of God for a
lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than
the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen —so be it.
[Jer. 2:11.]
26 For this reason God gave them over and aban-
doned them to vile affections and degrading passions.
For their women exchanged their natural function for
an unnatural and abnormal one;
27 And the men also turned from natural relations
with women and were set ablaze (burned out, consumed )
with lust for one another, men committing shameful
acts with men and suffering in their own ‘bodies and
personalities the inevitable consequences and penalty
of their wrong doing and going astray, which was [their]
fitting retribution.
28 And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge
God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the
knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned
mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome;
29 Until they were filled — permeated and saturated
— with every kind of unrighteousness, iniquity, grasping
and covetous greed, [and] malice. [They were] full of
envy and jealousy, murder, strife, deceit and treachery,
¢Webster, defining “‘selves.’”
ROMANS 2 547
ill will avd cruel ways. [They were] secret backbiters
and gossipers,
30 Slanderers, hateful to and hating God, full of in-
solence, arrogance [and] boasting; inventors of new
forms of evil, disobedient and undutiful to parents.
31 [They were] without understanding, conscience-
less and faithless, heartless and loveless [and] merciless.
32 Though they are fully aware of God’s righteous
decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they
not only do them themselves but approve and applaud
others who practise them.
CHAPTER 2
HEREFORE you have no excuse or defense or
justification, O man, whoever you are who judges
and condemns another. For in posing as judge and
passing sentence on another you condemn yourself,
because you who judge are habitually practising the very
same things [that you censure and denounce].
2 [But] we know that the judgment Cadverse ver-
dict, sentence) of God falls justly and in accordance with
truth upon those who practise such things.
3. And do you think or imagine, O man, when you
judge and condemn those who practise such things and
yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judg-
ment and elude His sentence and adverse verdict?
4 Or are you [so blind as] to trifle with and presume
upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His
kindness and forbearance and long-enduring patience?
Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that
548 ROMANS 2
God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent — *to
change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will?
5 But by your callous stubbornness and impenitence
of heart you are storing up wrath and indignation for
yourself on the day of wrath and indignation, when God's
righteous judgment (just doom) will be revealed.
6 For He will render to every man according to his
works — justly, as his deeds deserve: [Ps. 62:12.]
7 To those who by patient persistence in welldoing
[®springing from piety] seek for [unseen but sure] glory
and honor and [*the eternal blessedness of} immortality,
He will give eternal life.
8 But for those who are self-seeking and self-willed
and disobedient to the Truth but responsive to wicked-
ness, there will be indignation and wrath.
9 [And] there will be tribulation and anguish and
calamity and constraint for every soul of man who
Chabitually) does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek.
10 But glory and honor and heart-peace shall be
awarded to every one who Chabitually) does good, the
Jew first and also ‘the Greek.
11] For God shows no partiality C4undue favor, or
unfairness; with Him one man is not different from an-
other). [Deut. 10:17; If Chron. 19:7.]
12 All who have sinned without the Law will also
perish without [regard to] the Law, and all who have
sinned under the Law will be judged and condemned by
the Law.
13 For it is not merely hearing the Law [read] that
makes one righteous before God, but it is the doers of
Souter. bThayer. ‘A Pauline term for Gentile.
*Moulton and Milligan.
ROMANS 2 549
the Law who will be held guiltless and acquitted and
justified.
14 When Gentiles who have not [the divine] Law do
instinctively what the Law requires, they are a law to
themselves, since they do not have the Law.
15 They show that the essential requirements of
the Law are written in their hearts and are operating
there; with which their conscience (sense of right and
wrong) also bears witness; and their [moral] *decisions —
their arguments of reason, their condemning or approv-
ing thoughts — will accuse or perhaps defend and ex-
cuse [them]
16 On that day when, as my Gospel proclaims, God
by Jesus Christ will judge men in regard to "the things
which they conceal —their hidden thoughts. [Eccles.
12: 14.]
17 But if you bear the name of Jew and rely upon
the Law and pride yourselves in God and your relation-
ship to Him,
18 And know and understand His will and discern-
ingly approve tlie better things and have a sense of what
is vital, because you are instructed by the Law;
19 And if you are confident that you [yourself] are
a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in dark-
ness, and [that
20 You are] a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of
the childish, having in the Law the embodiment of
knowledge and truth;
21 Well then, you who teach others, do you not
8 Thayer. b Alford, Vincent, AV, ASV, etc.
550 ROMANS 2
teach yourself? While you teach against stealing, do
you steal —take what does not really belong to you?
22 You who say not to commit adultery, do you com-
mit adultery — are you unchaste in action or in thought?
You who abhor and loathe idols, do you rob temples —
appropriate to your own use what is consecrated to God,
thus robbing the sanctuary and "doing sacrilege?
23 You who boast in the Law, do you dishonor God
by breaking the Law — by stealthily infringing upon or
carelessly neglecting or openly breaking it?
24 For, as it is written, The name of God is maligned
and blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you!
— The words to this effect are from [your own] Scrip-
tures. [Is. 52:5; Ezek. 36:20.]
25 Circumcision does indeed profit if you keep the
Law; but if you habitually transgress the Law; your
circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the re-
quirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be
credited to him [as equivalent to] circumcision?
27 ‘Then those who are physically uncircumcised but
keep the Law will condemn you who, although you
have the code in writing and have circumcision, break
the Law.
28 For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one out-
wardly and publicly, nor is [true] circumcision something
external and physical.
29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and [true]
circumcision is of the heart, a spiritual and not a Jiteral
[matter]. His praise is not from men but from God.
8Moulton and Milligan.
ROMANS 3 551
CHAPTER 3
HEN what advantage remains to the Jew? — How
is he favored? Or what is the value or beneht of
circumcision?
2 Much in every way. To begin with, to the Jews
were entrusted the oracles (the brief communications,
the intentions, the utterances) of God. [Ps. 147:19.]
3 What if some did not believe and were without
faith? Does their lack of faith and their faithlessness
nullify avd make ineffective and void the faithfulness of
God and His fidelity [to His Word]?
4 By no means! Let God be found true though
every human being be false and a liar, as it is written,
That You may be justified and shown to be upright
in what You say, and prevail when You are judged [by
sinful men]. [Ps. 51:4.]
5 But if our unrighteousness thus establishes and ex-
hibits the righteousness of God, what shall we say?
That God is unjust and wrong to inflict His wrath upon
us [Jews]? I speak in a [purely] human way.
6 By no means! Otherwise, how could God judge
the world?
7 But [you say,] if through my falsehood God's in-
tegrity is magnihed and advertized and abounds to His
glory, why am 1 still being judged as a sinner?
8 And why should we not do evil that good may
come? as some slanderously charge us with teaching.
Such [false teaching] is justly condemned by them.
9 Well then, are we [Jews] superior and better off
than they? No, not at all. We have already charged that
552 ROMANS 3
all men, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin — held
down by and subject to its power and control.
10 As it is written, None is righteous, just and truth-
ful and upright and conscientious, no, not one. [Ps.
14:3.]
11 No one understands — no one intelligently dis-
cerns or comprehends; no one seeks out God. [Ps. 14:2.]
12 All have turned aside; together they have gone
wrong and have become unprofitable and worthless;
no one does right, not even one!
13 Their throat is a yawning grave; they use their
tongues to deceive — to mislead and to deal treacherous-
ly. The venom of asps is beneath their lips. [Ps. 5:9;
140:3.]
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and _ bitterness.
[Ps. 10:7.]
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood.
16 Destruction Cas it dashes them to pieces) and
misery mark their ways.
17 And they have no experience of the way of
peace — they know nothing about peace, for a peaceful
way they do not even recognize. [Is. 59:7, 8.]
18 ‘There is no (reverential) fear of God before their
eyes. [Ps. 36:1.]
19 Now we know that whatever the Law says it
speaks to those who are under the Law, so that [the mur-
murs and excuses of] every mouth may be hushed, and
all the world may be held accountable to God.
20 For no person will be justified — made righteous,
acquitted and judged acceptable —in His sight by ob-
serving the works prescribed by the Law. For [the real
ROMANS 3 553
function of] the Law is to make men recognize and be
conscious of sin [not mere perception, but an _ ac-
quaintance with sin which works toward repentance,
faith and holy character}.
21 But now the righteousness of God has been tre-
vealed independently and altogether apart from law,
although actually it is attested by the Law and the pro-
phets,
22 Namely, the righteousness of God which comes
by believing with personal trust and confident reliance
on Jesus Christ, the Messiah. [And it is meant] for all
who believe. For there is no distinction,
23 Since all have sinned and are falling short of the
honor and glory ‘which God bestows and receives.
24 [All] are justifed and made upright and in right
standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace
CHis unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemp-
tion which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,
25 Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all]
as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood — the
cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and
reconciliation — [to be received] through faith. This was
to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine for-
bearance He had passed over and ignored former sins
without punishment.
26 It was to demonstrate and prove at the present
time (*in the now season) that He Himself is righteous
and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who
has [true] faith in Jesus.
¢Vincent, dBengel. *Litera} translation.
554 ROMANS 4
27 Then what becomes of [our] pride and [our]
boasting? It is excluded — banished, ruled out entirely.
On what principle? [On the principle] of doing good
deeds? No, but on the principle of faith.
28 For we hold that a man is justified and made up-
right by faith independent of and distinctly apart from
good deeds (works of law). — The observance of the Law
has nothing to do with justification.
29 Or is God merely [the God] of Jews? Is He not
the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
30 Since it is one and the same God Who will justify
the circumcised by faith [*which germinated from Abra-
ham] and the uncircumcised through their [newly ac-
quired] faith.— [For] it is the same trusting faith in
both cases, a firmly relying faith [in Jesus Christ].
31 Do we then by [this] faith make the Law of no
effect, overthrow it or make it a dead letter? Certainly
not! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and up-
hold the Law.
CHAPTER 4
B:.. if so, what shall we say about Abraham, our
| forefather humanly speaking? CHow does this af-
fect his position, and what was gained by him)?
2 For if Abraham was justified Cthat is, established
as just by acquittal from guilt) by good works [that he
did, then] he has grounds for boasting. But not before
God!
3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed
(trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account
®Vincent. bSome ancient authorities so read. ¢Cremer.
ROMANS 4 555
as rightcousness — right living and right standing with
God. [Gen. 15:6.]
4 Now to a laborer, his wages are not counted as a
favor or a gift, but as an obligation — something owed to
him.
5 But to one who not working [by Law] trusts Cbe-
lieves fully) in Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith
is credited to him as righteousness —the standing ac-
ceptable to God.
6 Thus David ‘congratulates the man and pronounces
a blessing on him to whom God credits righteousness
apart from the works he does:
7 Blessed and happy and ‘to be envied are those
whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered
up and completely buried.
8 Blessed and happy and ‘to be envied is the person
of whose sin the Lord will take no account nor reckon it
against him. [Ps. 32:1, 2.]
9 Is this blessing (this happiness) then meant only
for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We
say that faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.
10 How then was it credited [to him]? Was it before
or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but
before he was circumcised.
11 He received the mark of circumcision as a token
or an evidence or seal of the righteousness which he
had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, [faith]
that he was to be made the father of all who [truly] be-
lieve though without circumcision and who thus have
¢Soutcr.
556 ROMANS 4
righteousness (right standing with God) imputed to
them and credited to their account,
12 As well as to make him the father of those cir-
cumcised persons, who are not merely circumcised, but
also walk in the way of that faith which our father
Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13 For the promise to Abraham or his posterity, that
he should inherit the world, did not come through
fobserving the commands of] the Law but through the
righteousness of faith. [Gen. 17:4-6; 22:16-18.]
14 IE it is the adherents of the Law who are to be
the heirs, then faith is made futile and empty of all mean-
ing, and the promise [of God] is made void — is annulled
and has no power.
15 For the Law results in {divine] wrath, but where
there is no law there is no transgression [of it either].
16 Therefore [inheriting] the promise is the outcome
of faith atid depends [entirely] on faith, in order that
it might be given as an act of grace Cunmerited favor),
to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his
descendants; not only to the devotees and adherents of
the Law but also to those who share the faith of
Abraham, who is {thus] the father of us all,
17 As it is written, I have made you the father of
many nations. -He was appointed our father — in the
sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the
dead and speaks of the non-existent things that [He has
foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed.
[Gen. 17:5.]
18 [For Abraham, human reason for] hope being
gone, hoped on in faith that he should become the father
ROMANS 5 557
of many nations, as he had been promised, So [number-
less] shall your descendants be. [Gen. 15:5.]
19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered
the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as
good as dead because he was about a hundred years old,
or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah’s Cdead-
ened) womb. [Gen. 17:17; 18:11.]
20 No unbelief or distrust made him waver or doubt-
ingly question concerning the promise of God, but he
grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave
praise and glory to God,
21 Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and
mighty to keep His word and to do what He had
promised.
22 That is why his faith was accredited to him as
righteousness — right standing with God.
23 But [the words], It was accredited to him, were
written not for his sake alone,
24 But [they were~ written] for our sakes too.
[ Righteousness, standing acceptable to God] will be
granted and accredited to us also who believe — trust in,
adhere to and rely on — God Who iaised Jesus our Lord
from the dead,
25 Who was betrayed and put to death because of
our misdeeds and was raised to secure our justification —
our “acquittal, and to make our account balance, absolv-
ing us from all guilt before God.
CHAPTER 5
deni since we are justified — ‘acquitted, de-
clared righteous, and given a right standing with
God — through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have
4 \bbott-Smith.
558 ROMANS 5
{the peace of reconciliation] to hold and to "enjoy, peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah,
the Anointed One.
2 Through Him also we have [our] access (Cen-
trance, introduction) by faith into this grace — state of
God’s favor —in which we [firmly and safely] stand.
And ‘let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing
and enjoying the glory of God.
3 Moreover — let us also be full of joy now! ‘Let
us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in
our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and
hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.
4 And endurance Cfortitude) develops maturity of
Jcharacter — that is, approved faith and ‘tried integrity.
And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of]
Noyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.
5 Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames
us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts
through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.
6 While we were yet in weakness — powerless to
help ourselves — at the fitting time Christ died for Cin
behalf of) the ungodly.
7 Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give
his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a
noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone
might even dare to die.
8 But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love
for us by the fact that while we were still sinners Christ,
the Messiah, the Anointed One, died for us.
bLiterally, “have” or “hold,” so ‘‘enjoy.”’ 1Alternate reading.
outer. KVincent. 1Thayer.
ROMANS 5 559
9 Therefore, since we are now justified — ™acquitted,
made righteous and brought into right relationship with
God — by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it
that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation
and wrath of God.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled
to God through the death of His Son, it is much more
[certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be
saved [daily delivered from sin’s dominion] through His
[™resurrection | life.
11 Not only so, but we also rejoice and exultingly
glory in God [His love and perfection] through our
Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now te-
ceived and enjoy [our] reconciliation. [Jer. 9:24.]
12 Therefore as sin came into the world through
one man and death as the result of sin, so death spread to
all men, [πὸ one being able to stop it or to escape its
power] because all men sinned.
13 [To be sure,] sin was in the world before ever the
Law was given, but sin is not charged to men’s account
where there is no law [to transgress}.
14 Yet death held sway from Adam to Moses [the
Lawgiver], even over those who did not themselves
transgress [a positive command] as Adam did. Adam
was a type (prehigure) of the One Who was to come, [in
reverse, "the former destructive, the Latter saving}.
(Gen. 5:5; 7:22; Deut. 34:5.]
15 But God’s free gift is not at all to be compared to
the trespass — His grace is out of all proportion to the
fall of man. For if many died through one man’s falling
@ Abbott-Smith. 8Thayer.
560 ROMANS 5
away — his lapse, his offense — much more profusely did
God’s grace and the free gift [that comes] through the
undeserved favor of the one Man Jesus Christ, abound
and overflow to and for [the benefit of] many.
16 Nor is the free gift at all to be compared to the
effect of that one [man’s] sin. For the sentence [fol-
lowing the trespass] of one [man] brought condemna-
tion, whereas the free gift [following] many transgres-
sions brings justification — an act of righteousness.
17 For if, because of one man’s trespass (lapse, of-
fense) death reigned through that one, much more sure-
ly will those who receive [God’s] overHowing grace Cun-
merited favor) and the free gift of righteousness (putting
them into right standing with Himself) reign as kings
in life through the One, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the
Anointed One.
18 Well then, as one man’s trespass —one man’s
false step and falling away — [led] to condemnation for
all men, so one Man’s act of righteousness [leads] to ac-
quittal and right standing with God, and life for all men.
19 For just as by one man’s disobedience Cfailing to
hear, ‘heedlessness and carelessness) the many were
constituted sinners, so by one Man’s obedience the many
will be constituted righteous — made acceptable to God,
brought into right standing with Him.
20 But then Law came in, [only] to expand and in-
crease the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting
opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded,
grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and in-
creased the more and superabounded.
bLiteral meaning. ¢Vincent, Bengel.
ROMANS 6 561
21 So that, [just] as sin has reigned in death, so
grace -- His unearned and undeserved favor — might
reign also through righteousness Cright standing with
God) which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ,
the Messiah, the Anointed One, our Lord.
CHAPTER 6
We shall we say [to all this]? Are we to remain
in sin in order that God’s grace (favor and mercy)
may multiply and overflow?
2. Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live
in it any longer?
3 Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who
have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into
His death?
4 We were buried therefore with Him by the bap-
tism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from
the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too
might habitually live and behave in newness of life.
5 For if we have become one with Him by sharing
a death like His, we shall also be fone with Him in
sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God].
6 We know that our old Cunrenewed) self was nail-
ed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body,
[which is the instrument] of sin, might be made in-
cHective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer
be the slaves of sin.
7 For when a man dies he is freed — loosed, delivered
— from [the power of] sin [among men].
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that
we shall also live with Him.
562 ROMANS 6
9 Because we know that Christ, the Anointed One,
being once raised from the dead will never die again;
death no longer has power over Him.
10 For by the death He died He died to sin [end-
ing His relation to it] once for all, and the life that He
lives He is living to God—in unbroken fellowship
with Him.
11 Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and
your relation to it broken, but [that you are] alive to
God — living in unbroken fellowship with Him — in
Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore rule as king in your mortal
(short-lived, perishable) bodies, to make you yield to
their cravings and be subject to their lusts and evil
passions.
13. Do not continually offer or yield your bodily mem-
bers [and ®faculties] to sin as instruments (tools) of
wickedness. But offer and yield yourselves to God as
though you have been raised from the dead to [perpetual] ]
life, and your bodily members [and ®faculties] to God,
presenting them as implements of righteousness.
14 For sin shall not [any longer] exert dominion
over you, since now you are not under Law [as slaves],
but under grace — as subjects of God’s favor and mercy.
15 What then [are we to conclude]? Shall we sin
because we live not under Law but under God’s favor
and mercy? Certainly not!
16 Do you not know that if you continually surrender
® Mele — “ Physical; though some include mental faculties.’”’ — Vincent’s
“Word Studies in The New Testament.”’
ROMANS 6 563
yourselves to any one to do his will, you are the slaves of
him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which
leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteous-
ness — right doing and right standing with God?
17 But thank God, though you were once slaves of
sin you have become obedient with all your heart to
the standard of teaching in which you were instructed
and to which you were committed.
18 And, having been set free from sin, you have be-
come the servants of righteousness — of conformity to
the divine will in thought, purpose and action.
19 Jam speaking in familiar human terms, because of
your natural limitations. For as you yielded your bodily
members [and faculties] as servants to impurity and
ever increasing lawlessness, so now yield your bodily
members [and ®faculties] once for all as servants to
righteousness — right being and doing — [which leads]
to sanctification.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free
in regard to righteousness.
21 But then what benefit (return) did you get
from the things of which you are now ashamed? [None,]
for the end of those things is death.
22 But now since you have been set free from sin
and have become the slaves of God, you have your
present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life.
23 For the wages which sin pays is death; but the
[bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through Cin
union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.
® Mele — ‘‘Physical; though some inciude mental faculties.” — Vincent.
564 ROMANS 7
CHAPTER 7
O you not know, brethren, for I am speaking to
men who are acquainted with the Law, that legal
claims have power over a person only for so long as
he is alive?
2 For [instance] a married woman is bound by law
to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband
dies she is loosed and discharged from the law concern-
ing her husband.
3 Accordingly, she will be held an adulteress if she
unites herself to another man while her husband lives.
But if her husband dies, the marriage law no longer is
binding on her — she is free from that law — and if she
unites herself to another man she is not an adulteress.
4 Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death
as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ,
so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who
was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit
for God.
5 When we were living in the flesh (mere physical
lives) the sinful passions that were awakened and aroused
up by [what] the Law [makes sin] were constantly
operating in our natural powers — in our bodily organs,
‘in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh — so that
we bore fruit for death.
6 But now we are discharged from the Law and have
terminated all intercourse with it, having died to what
once restrained and held us captive. So now we serve
not under [obedience to] the old code of written regula-
*Matthew Henry’s Commentary,
ROMANS 7 565
tions, but [under obedience to the promptings] of the
Spirit in newness [of life].
7 What then do we conclude? Is the Law identical
with sin? Certainly not! Nevertheless, if it had not
been for the Law, I should not have recognized sin or
have known its meaning. [For instance] I would not
have known about covetousness — would have had no
consciousness of sin or sense of guilt — if the Law had
not [repeatedly] said, You shall not covet and have an
evil desire [for one thing and another]. [Ex. 20:14, 17;
Deut. 5:18, 21.]
8 But sin, finding opportunity in the commandment
[to express itself] got a hold on me and aroused and
stimulated all kinds of forbidden desires Clust, covetous-
ness). For without the Law sin is dead — the sense of
it is inactive and a lifeless thing.
9 Once I was alive but quite apart from and uncon-
scious of the Law. But when the commandment came,
sin lived again, and I died — was sentenced by the Law
to death. [Ps. 73:22.]
10 And the very legal ordinance which was de-
signed and intended to bring life, actually proved [to
mean to me] death. [Lev. 18:5.]
11 For sin, seizing the opportunity and getting a
hold on me [by taking its incentive] from the command-
ment, beguiled and entrapped and cheated me, and using
it [as a weapon] killed me.
12 The Law therefore is holy, and [each] command-
ment is holy and just and good.
13. Did that which is good then prove fatal (bringing
death) to me? Certainly not! It was sin, working
566 ROMANS 7
death in me by using this good thing [as a weapon],
in order that through the commandment sin might be
shown up clearly to be sin, that the extreme malignity
and immeasurable sinfulness of sin might plainly appear.
14 We know that the Law is spiritual; but 1 am
a creature of the flesh (carnal, unspiritual), having been
sold into slavery under [the control of] sin.
15 For I do not understand my own actions —I am
baffled, bewildered. I do not practise or accomplish
what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [¢which
my moral instinct condemns].
16 Now if I do [habitually] what is contrary to my
desire, [that means that] I acknowledge and agree that
the Law is good (morally excellent) and that I take
sides with it.
17 However, it is no longer I who does the deed, but
the sin [principle] which is at home in me and has pos-
session of me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me,
that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I can-
not perform it.—I have the intention and urge to do
what is right, but no power to carry it out;
19 For I fail to practise the good deeds I desire to do,
but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I
am [ever] doing.
20 Now if I do what I do not desire to do, it is no
longer I doing it—it is not myself that acts — but the
sin [principle] which dwells within me [*fxed and
operating in my soul].
21 801 find it to be a law [of my being] that when
4Godet (—Vincent). e'Thayer.
ROMANS 8 567
I want to do what is right and good, evil is ever present
with me and J am subject to its insistent demands.
22 For I endorse and delight in the Law of God in
my inmost self — with my new nature. [Ps. 1:2.]
23 But I discern in my bodily members —*in the
sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh — a different law
Crule of action) at war against the law of my mind Gny
reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that
dwells in my bodily organs — *in the sensitive appetites
and wills of the Mesh.
24 O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that
I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the
shackles of] this body of death?
25 O thank God! — He will! through Jesus Christ,
the Anointed One, our Lord! So then indeed I of my-
self with the mind and heart serve the Law of God,
but with the flesh the law of sin.
CHAPTER 8
HEREFORE [there 15] now no condemnation — no
adjudging guilty of wrong — for those who are in
Christ Jesus, who live not after the dictates of the flesh,
but after the dictates of the Spirit. [cf. John 3:18.]
2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in
Christ Jesus [the law of our new being], has freed me
from the law of sin and of death.
3 For God has done what the Law could not do,
[its power] being weakened by the flesh [that is, the
entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending
*Matthew Henry's Commentary. bMelanchthon (-Vincent).
568 ROMANS 8
His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and ‘as an offer-
ing for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh — *sub-
dued, overcame, ‘deprived it of its power [over all who
accept that sacrifice]. [Lev. 7:37.]
4 So that the righteous and just requirement of
the Law might be fully met in us, who live and move
not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the
Spirit — our lives governed not by the standards and ac-
cording to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the
CHoly) Spirit.
5 For those who are according to the flesh and con-
trolled by its unholy desires, set their minds on and
‘pursue those things which gratify the flesh. But those
who are according to the Spirit and [controlled by the
desires] of the Spirit, set their minds on and *seek those
things which gratify the CHoly) Spirit.
6 Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and
reason without the Holy Spirit,] is death — death that
‘comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here
and hereafter. But the mind of the CHoly) Spirit is
life and soul-peace [both now and forever].
7 {That is] because the mind of the flesh — with its
carnal thoughts and purposes —is hostile to God; for
it does not submit itself to God’s Law, indeed it cannot.
8 So then those who are living the life of the flesh —
catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal
nature — cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable
to Him.
4Alternate reading. Thayer. tVincent.
ROMANS 8 569
9 But you are not living the life of the flesh, you
are living the life of the Spirit, if the CHoly) Spirit of
God [really] dwells within you — directs and controls
vou. But if any one does not possess the CHoly) Spirit
of Christ, he is none of His —he does not belong to
Christ, [is not truly a child of God]. [v. 14.]
10 But if Christ lives in you, [then although your
natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the
spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He im-
putes to you].
11 And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus
from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up
Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your
mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit
Who dwells in you.
12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, but not to the
flesh — we are not obligated to our carnal nature — to
live [a life ruled by the standards set up by the dictates ]
of the flesh.
13 For if you live according to [the dictates of] the
flesh you will surely die. But if through the power of
the CHoly) Spirit you are habitually putting to death —
make extinct, deaden — the [evil] deeds prompted by the
body, you shall Creally and genuinely) live forever.
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are
sons of God.
15 For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is]
not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage
to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption —
570 ROMANS 8
the Spirit producing sonship — in [the bliss of] which we
cry, Abba! [That is,] Father!
16 The Spirit Himself [thus] testihes together with
our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of
God.
17 And if we are [His] children, then we are [His]
heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ —
sharing His inheritance with Him; only we must share
His suffering if we are to share His glory.
18 [But what of that?] For I consider that the suf-
ferings of this present time Cthis present life) are not
worth being compared with the glory that is about to
be revealed to us and in us and "for us, and conferred
on us!
19 For Ceven the whole) creation (Call nature) waits
expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made
known — waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their
sonship.
20 For the creation (nature) was subjected to "frailty
— to futility, condemned to frustration — not because of
some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him
Who so subjected it. [Yet] with the hope [Eccles. 1:2.]
21 That nature (creation) itself will be set free
from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an
entrance] into the glorious freedom of God's children.
22 We know that the whole creation (of irrational
creatures) has been moaning together in the pains of
labor until now. [Jer. 12:4, 11.]
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves too,
*Williams’ ‘“‘The New Testament in the Language of the People.”
bThayer.
ROMANS 8 571
who have and enjoy the first fruits of the CHoly) Spirit
—a foretaste of the blissful things to come — groan in-
wardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from
sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption
Cour manifestation as God’s sons).
24 For in [this] hope we were saved. But hope
[the object of] which is seen is not hope. For how
can one hope for what he already sees?
25 But if we hope for what is still unseen by us,
we wait for it with patience and composure.
26 So too the CHoly) Spirit comes to our aid and
bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what
prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought,
but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication
and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings
and groanings too deep for utterance.
27 And He Who searches the hearts of men knows
what is in the mind of the CHoly) Spirit — what His
intent is — because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [be-
fore God] in behalf of the saints according to and in
harmony with God’s will. [Ps. 139:1, 2.]
28 We are assured and know that [*God being a
partner in their labor], all things work together and are
[ftting into a plan] for good to those who love God and
are called according to [His] design and purpose.
29 For those whom He foreknew — of whom He was
Paware and ‘loved beforehand — He also destined from
the beginning Cforeordaining them) to be molded into
the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness],
*Some authorities read, ‘God worketh all things with them.”
bMeyer {— Vincent]. ‘John Murray's ‘“The Sovereignty of God.”
572 ROMANS 8
that He might become the first-born among many
brethren.
30 And those whom He thus foreordained He also
called; and those whom He called He also justified —
acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right stand-
ing with Himself. And those whom He justified He
also glorified — raising them to a heavenly dignity and
condition [state of being].
31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God
be for us, who [can be] against us? — Who can be our
foe, if God is on our side? [Ps. 118:6.]
32 He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own
Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with
Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?
33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect
[when it is] God Who justifies — Who puts us in right
relation to Himself? (Who shall come forward and
accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will
God, Who acquits us?)
34 Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ
Jesus, the Messiah, Who died, or rather Who was raised
from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually
pleading as He intercedes for us?
35. Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love?
Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calam-
ity and distress? Or persecution, or hunger, or destitu-
tion, or peril, or sword?
36 Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put
to death all the day long, we are regarded and counted
as sheep for the slaughter. [Ps. 44:22.]
ROMANS 9 573
37 Yet amid all these things we are more than con-
querors ‘and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who
loved us.
38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt —am sure —
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor things ‘impending and threatening, nor things to
come, nor powers,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation will be able to separate us from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
CHAPTER 9
AM speaking the truth in Christ. I am not lying;
I my conscience [enlightened and prompted] by the
Holy Spirit, bearing witness with me
2 That I have bitter grief and incessant anguish
in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myse!f were accursed and
cut off and banished from Christ, for the sake of my
brethren and instead of them, my natural kinsmen and
my fellow countrymen. [Ex. 32:32.]
4 For they are Israelites, and to them belong God's
adoption [as a nation] and the glorious CShekinah)
Presence. With them were the special covenants made,
to them was the Law given. To them [the temple]
worship was revealed and [God’s own] promises an-
nounced. [Ex. 4:22; Hos. 11:1.]
5 To them belong the patriarchs, and as far as
His natural descent was concerned from them is the
*Thayer. fVincent. Literal meaning, ‘“‘standing in sight.”
574 ROMANS 9
Christ, Who is exalted and supreme over all, God,
blessed forever! Amen — so let it be.
6 However, it is not as though God’s Word had
failed — coming to nothing. For it is not everybody who
is a descendant of Jacob CIsrael})) who belongs to [the
true] Israel.
7 And they are not all the children of Abraham
because they are by blood his descendants. [No, the
promise was], Your descendants will be called and
counted through the line of Isaac [though Abraham had
an older son]. [Gen. 21:9-12.]
8 That is to say, it is not the children of the body [of
Abraham] who are made God’s children, but it is the
offspring to whom the promise applies that shall be
counted [as Abraham’s true] descendants.
9 For this is what the promise said, About this
time [next year] will I return and Sarah shall have a
son. [Gen. 18:10.]
10 And not only that, but this too: Rebecca con-
ceived [two sons under exactly the same circumstances]
by our forefather Isaac.
11 And the children were yet unborn and had so
far done nothing either good or evil. Even so, in order
further to carry out God’s purpose of selection (election,
choice), which depends not on works or what men can
do, but on Him Who calls [them],
12 It was said to her that the elder [son] should
serve the younger [son]. [Gen. 25:21-23.]
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau
ROMANS 9 575
have I hated [held in "relative disregard in comparison
with My feeling for Jacob]. [Mal. 1:2, 3.]
14 What shall we conclude then? Is there injustice
upon God's part? Certainly not!
15 For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom
I will have mercy and I will have compassion (pity) on
whom I will have compassion. [Ex. 33:19.]
16 So then [God's gift] is not a question of human
will and human effort, but of God’s mercy. — It depends
not on one’s own willingness nor on his strenuous ex-
ertion as in running a race, but on God’s having mercy
on him.
17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, I have raised
you up for this very purpose of displaying My power
in [dealing with] you, so that My name may be pro-
claimed the whole world over.
18 So then He has mercy on whomever He wills
(chooses) and He hardens — makes stubborn and un-
yielding the heart of — whomever He wills.
19 You will say to me, Why then does He still find
fault and blame us [for sinning]? For who can resist
and withstand His will?
20 But who are you, a mere man, to criticize and
contradict and answer back to God? Will what is
formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made
me thus? [Is. 29:16; 45:9.]
21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make
out of the same mass (Jump) one vessel for beauty and
bAbbott-Smith’s ‘‘Manual Greek Lexicon of The New Testament.”
576 ROMANS 9
distinction and honorable use, and another for menial
or ignoble and dishonorable use?
22 What if God, although fully intending to show
(the awfulness οἱ) His wrath and to make known His
power and authority, has tolerated with much patience
the vessels Cobjects) of [His] anger which are ripe for
destruction? [Prov. 16:4.]
23 And [what if] He thus purposes to make known
and show the wealth of His glory in [dealing with]
the vessels (objects) of His mercy which He has pre-
pared beforehand for glory,
24 Even including ourselves whom He has called,
not only from among the Jews but also from among
the Gentiles heathen)?
25 Just as He says in Hosea, Those who were not
My people I will call My people, and her who was not
beloved [I will call] My beloved. [Hos. 2:23.]
26 And it shall be in the very place where it was
said to them, You are not My people, they shall be called
sons of the living God. [Hos. 1:10.]
27 And Isaiah calls out (solemnly cries aloud)
over Israel: Though the number of the sons of Israel
be as the sand of the sea, only the remnant — a small part
of them — will be saved [*from perdition, condemnation,
judgment]!
28 For the Lord will execute His sentence upon
the earth — He will conclude, close, His account with
men completely and without delay — rigorously cutting
it short in His justice. [Is. 10:22, 23.]
29 It is as Isaiah predicted, If the Lord of hosts
*Cremer’s ‘“‘Biblico-Theological Lexicon of New Testament Greek.”
ROMANS 10 577
had not left us a seed [from which to propagate de-
scendants], we (Israel) would have fared like Sodom
and have been made like Gomorrah. [[5. 1:9.]
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles who did
not follow after righteousness — who did not seek salva-
tion by right relationship to God — have attained it by
faith (that is, righteousness imputed by God, based on
and produced by faith).
31 Whereas Israel, though ever in pursuit of a law
[for the securing] of righteousness Cright standing with
God), actually did not succeed in fulfilling the Law.
[Is. 51:1.]
32 For what reason? Because [they pursued it] not
through faith —they did not depend on faith but on
what they could do—relying on the merit of their
works. ‘They have stumbled over the Stumbling Stone.
[Is. 28:16, 8:14.]
33 As it is written, Behold I am laying in Zion
a Stone that will make men stumble, a Rock that will
make them fall; but he who believes in Him Cwho
adheres to, trusts in and relies on Him) shall not be
put to shame nor be disappointed in his expectations.
[Is. 28:16.]
CHAPTER 10
RETHREN, [with all] my heart’s desire and good-
will for (Israel) I long and pray to God that they
may be saved.
2 1 bear them witness that they have a [certain] zeal
and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and
according to [correct and vital] knowledge.
578 ROMANS 10
3 For being ignorant of the righteousness that
God ascribes Cwhich makes one acceptable to Him in
word, thought and deed), and seeking to establish a
righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they
did not obey or submit themselves to God’s righteousness.
4 For Christ is the end of the Law —the limit at
which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who
is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose
which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. — That
is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him —as the
means of righteousness Cright relationship to God) for
everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him.
5 For Moses writes that the man who [can] practise
the righteousness (perfect conformity to God’s will)
which is based on the Law [with all its intricate de-
mands] shall live by it. [Lev. 18:5.]
6 But the righteousness based on faith — imputed by
God and bringing right relationship with Him — says,
Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven?
that is, to bring Christ down,
7 Or who will descend into the abyss? that is, to
bring Christ up from the dead [as if we could be saved
by our own efforts], [Deut. 30:12, 13.]
8 But what does it say? The Word (God’s message
in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart;
that is, the Word — the message, the basis and object —
of faith, which we preach. [Deut. 30:14.]
9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with
your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe
(adhere to, trust in and rely on the truth) that God
raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
ROMANS 10 579
10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to,
trusts in and relies on Christ) and so is justified Cde-
clared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth
he confesses — declares openly and speaks out freely his
faith — and confirms [his] salvation.
11 The Scripture says, No man who believes in
Him — who adheres to, relies on and trusts in Him —
will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.
[Is. 28:16, 49:23; Jer. 17:7; Ps. 34:22.]
12 [No one,] for there is no distinction between
Jew and Greek. The same Lord is Lord over all [of us]
and He generously bestows His riches upon all who
call upon Him [in faith].
13 For every one who calls upon the name of the
Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved. [Joel 2:32.]
14 But how are people to call upon Him Whom
they have not believed —-in Whom they have no faith,
on Whom they have no reliance? And how are they to
believe in Him— adhere to, trust in and rely upon
Him — of Whom they have never heard? And how
are they to hear without a preacher?
159. And how can men [be expected to] preach unless
they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the
feet of those who bring glad tidings! - How welcome is
the coming of those who preach the good news of His
good things! [Is. 52:7.]
16 But they have not all heeded the Gospel; for
Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed Chad faith in) what
he has heard from us? [Ϊ5. 53:1.]
17 So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and
580 ROMANS 11
what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message
that came from the lips} of Christ, the Messiah [Him-
self].
18 But I ask, Have they not heard? Indeed they
have; [for the Scripture says, ] Their voice [that of nature
bearing God’s message] has gone out to all the earth, and
their words to the far bounds of the world. [Ps. 19:4.]
19 Again I ask, Did Israel not understand? — Did
the Jews have no warning that the Gospel was to go
forth to the Gentiles, to all the earth? First, there is
Moses who says, I will make you jealous of those who
are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you
angry. [Deut. 32:21.]
20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, I have been
found by. those who did not seek Me; I have shown
Crevealed)) Myself to those who did not [consciously]
ask for Me. [Is. 65:1.]
21 But of Israel he says, All day long I have stretched
out My hands to a people unyielding and disobedient and
self-willed — to a fault-finding, contrary and contradict-
ing people. [Is. 65:2.]
CHAPTER 11
ASK then, has God totally rejected and disowned
His people? Of course not! Why, I myself am
an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the
tribe of Benjamin! [I Sam. 12:22; Jer. 31:37; 33:24-26.]
2 No, God has not rejected and disowned His
people [whose destiny] He had marked out and ap-
pointed and foreknown from the beginning. Do you not
ROMANS 11 581
know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads
with God against Israel? [Ps. 94:14; 1 Kin. 19.]
3 Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have
demolished Your altars, and I alone am left, and they
seek my life.
4 But what is God’s reply to him? I have kept for
Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the
knee to Baal! [1 Kin. 19:18.]
5 So too at the present time there is a remnant (a
small believing minority), selected (chosen) by grace —
by God's unmerited favor and graciousness.
6 But if it is by grace —His unmerited favor and
graciousness — it is no longer conditioned on works or
anything men have done. Otherwise, grace would no
longer be grace — it would be meaningless.
7 What then [shall we conclude]? Israel failed to
obtain what it sought [God’s favor by obedience to law].
Only the elect (those chosen few) obtained it; while the
rest of them became callously indifferent — blinded, hard-
ened and made insensible to it.
8 As it is written, God gave them a spirit (an atti-
tude) of stupor, eyes that should not see and ears that
should not hear, [that has continued] down to this very
day. [[5. 29:10; Deut. 29:4.]
9 And David says, Let their table Ctheir feasting,
banqueting) become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a
“just retribution — rebounding as a boomerang upon
them; [Ps. 69:22.]
10 Let their eyes be darkened (dimmed) so that they
®Vincent. bGreek, literally, a returi, a recompense, etc.
582 ROMANS 11
cannot see, and make them bend their back [stooping
beneath their burden] forever. [Ps. 69:23.]
11 So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall — to
their utter spiritual ruin, irretrievably? By no means!
But through their false step and transgression salvation
{has come] to the Gentiles, so as to arouse Israel [to see
and feel what they forfeited] and so to make them
jealous.
12 Now if their stumbling — their lapse, their trans-
gression — has so enriched the world [at large], and if
[Israel’s] failure means such riches for the Gentiles,
think what an enrichment and greater advantage will
follow their full reinstatement!
13 But now I am speaking to you who are Gentiles.
Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I
lay great stress on my ministry and magnify my office,
14 In the hope of making my fellow Jews jealous —
in order to stir them up to imitate, copy and appropriate —
and thus managing to save some of them.
15 For if their rejection and exclusion from the
benefits of salvation were [overruled] for the reconcili-
ation of a world to God, what will their acceptance and
admission mean? [It will be nothing short of] life
from the dead!
16 Now if the first handful of dough offered as the
first fruits [Abraham and the patriarchs] is consecrated
Choly), so is the whole mass [the nation of Israel]; and
if the root [Abraham] is consecrated Choly), so are the
branches. [Num. 15:19-21.]
17 But if some of the branches were broken off,
ROMANS 11 583
while you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them
to share the richness [of the root and sap] of the olive
tree,
18 Do not boast over the branches and pride your-
self at their expense. If you do boast and feel superior,
remember it is not you that support the root, but the
root [that supports] you.
19 You will say then, Branches were broken (pruned)
off so that I might be grafted in!
20 That is true. But they were broken Cpruned)
off because of their unbelief — their lack of real faith,
and you are established through faith — because you do
believe. So do not become proud and conceited, but
rather stand in awe and be reverently afraid.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches
[because of unbelief], neither will He spare you [if you
are guilty of the same offense].
22 Then note and appreciate the gracious kindness
and the severity of God; severity toward those who
have fallen, but God's gracious kindness to you. [That
is, to you] provided you continue in His grace and to
abide in His kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off —
pruned away.
23 And even those others Cthe fallen branches,
Jews), if they do not persist in [clinging to] their
unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to
graft them in again.
24 For if you have been cut from what is by
nature a wild olive tree, and against nature grafted
into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier will it be to
584 ROMANS 11
graft these natural [branches] back on [the original
parent stock of] their own olive tree.
25 Lest you be self-opinionated — wise in your own
conceits —I do not want you to miss this hidden truth
and mystery, brethren: a hardening Cinsensibility) has
[temporarily] befallen a part of Israel [to last] until the
‘full number of the ingathering of the Gentiles has
come in,
26 And so all Israe] will be saved. As it is written,
The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish un-
godliness from Jacob. [[5. 59:20, 21.]
27 And this will be My covenant — My agreement —
with them when 1 shall take away their sins. [Jer.
31:33; 1s: 27:9.]
28 From the point of view of the Gospel (good
news) they [the Jews, at present] are enemies [of God],
which is for your advantage and benefit. But from the
point of view of God’s choice — of election, of divine
selection — they are still the beloved [dear to Him] for
the sake of their forefathers.
29 For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable — He
never withdraws them when once they are given, and
He does not change His mind about those to whom He
gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.
30 Just as you were once disobedient and rebellious
toward God but now have obtained [His] mercy, through
their disobedience,
31 So they also now are being disobedient (when
you are receiving mercy, that they in turn may one
¢eThayer.
ROMANS 12 585
day share the mercy [through you as messengers of
the Gospel to them] which has been shown to you).
Thus through the mercy you are enjoying, they may
now also receive mercy.
32 For God has consigned (penned up) all men to
disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all
[alike].
33. O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowl-
edge of God! How unfathomable Cinscrutable, un-
searchable) are His judgments — His decisions! And
how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His
ways — His methods, His paths!
34 For who has known the mind of the Lord and
who has understood His thoughts, or who has [ever]
been His counsellor? [Is. 40:13, 14.]
35 Or who has first given God anything that he
might be paid back or that he could claim ἃ recom-
pense?
36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are
all things. — For all things originate with Him and
come from Him; all things live through Him, and all
things center in and tend to consummate and to end in
Him. To Him be glory forever! Amen — so be it.
CHAPTER 12
I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you
in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a de-
cisive dedication of your bodies — presenting all your
members and faculties — as a living sacrifice, holy Cde-
voted, consecrated.) and well pleasing to God, which is
586 ROMANS 12
your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiri-
tual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world —this *age,
fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial
customs. But be transformed (changed) by the [entire]
renewal of your mind — by its new ideals and its new
attitude — so that you may prove [for yourselves] what
is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, ®even
the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in
His sight for you].
3 For by the grace Cunmerited favor of God) given
to me I warn every one among you not to estimate and
think of himself more highly than he ought — not to
have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance; but
to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to
the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.
4 For as in one physical body we have many parts
Corgans, members) and all of these parts do not have
the same function or use,
5 So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ,
the Messiah, and individually we are parts one of an-
other — mutually dependent on one another.
6 Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that
differ according to the grace given us, let us use them:
[He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] accord-
ing to the proportion of his faith;
7 [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give
himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching;
8 (He who exhorts, encourages), to his exhortation;
he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liber-
® Alternate reading
ROMANS 12 587
ality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and
singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with
genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness.
9 [Let your] love be sincere — a real thing; hate what
is evil Cloathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from
wickedness), but hold fast to that which is good.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection — as
members of one family — giving precedence and showing
honor to one another.
11 Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be
aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.
12 Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient
in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.
13 Contribute to the needs of God’s people — shar-
ing in the necessities of the saints — pursuing the practice
of hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you — who are cruel
in their attitude toward you; bless and do not curse them.
15. [Share others’ joy], rejoicing with those who re-
joice; and [share others’ grief], weeping with those who
weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be
haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily
adjust yourself to [people, things] and "give yourselves
to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise
in your own conceits. [Prov. 3:7.]
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought
for what is honest and proper and noble — aiming to be
above reproach — in the sight of every one. [Prov. 20:22.]
*Alternate reading.
588 ROMANS 13
18 IF possible, as far as it depends on you, live at
peace with everyone.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the
way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance
is Mine, I will repay Crequite), says the Lord. [Deut.
32:35.]
20 But, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he
is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap
burning coals upon his head. [Prov. 25:21, 22.]
21 Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but
overcome (master) evil with good.
CHAPTER 13
ET every person be loyally subject to the governing
Ccivil) authorities. For there is no authority except
from God — by His permission, His sanction; and those
that exist do so by God’s appointment. [Prov. 8:15.]
2 Therefore he who resists and sets himself up
against the authorities resists what God has appointed
and arranged — in divine order. And those who resist
will bring down judgment upon themselves — receiving
the penalty due them.
3 For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of]
good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would
you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then
do what is right and you will receive his approval and
commendation.
4 For he is God’s servant for your good. But if
vou do wrong, [you should dread him and] be afraid, for
he does not bear and wear the sword for nothing. He is
God’s servant to execute His wrath CHis punishment,
His vengeance) on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid
ROMANS 13 589
God's wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter
of principle and for the sake of conscience.
6 For this same reason you pay taxes, for [the civil
authorities] are official servants under God, devoting
themselves to attending to this very service.
7 Render to all men their dues. [Pay] taxes to whom
taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect
to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.
8 Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except
to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor —
who practises loving others — has fulfilled the Law [re-
lating to one’s fellowmen], meeting all its requirements.
9 ‘The commandments, You shall not commit adult-
ery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not
covet Chave an evil desire), and any other command-
ment, are summed up in the single command, You shall
love your neighbor as yourself. [Ex. 20:13-17; Lev.
19:18.]
10 Love does no wrong to one’s neighbor — it never
hurts anybody. ‘Therefore love meets ali the require-
ments and is the fulfilling of the Law.
11] Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this
is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of
your sleep —rouse to reality. For salvation (final de-
liverance) is nearer to us now than when we first be-
lieved — adhered to, trusted in and relied on Christ, the
Messiah.
12 The night is far gone [and] the day is almost
here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and
deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.
13 Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and
590 ROMANS 14
becomingly as in the [open light of] day; not in reveling
(carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and
debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quar-
reling and jealousy.
14 But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ,
the Messiah, and make no provision for [indulging] the
flesh — put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of
your physical nature — to [gratify its] desires (lusts).
CHAPTER 14
S for the man who is a weak believer, welcome
him [into your fellowship], but not to criticize his
opinions or pass judgment on his scruples or perplex him
with discussions.
2 One [man’s faith permits him] to believe he may
eat anything, while a weaker one [limits his] eating to
vegetables.
3 Let not him who eats look down on or despise
him who abstains, and let not him who abstains criticize
and pass judgment .on him who eats; for God has ac-
cepted and welcomed him.
4 Who are you to pass judgment on and censure
another’s household servant? It is before his own Master
that he stands or falls. And he shall stand and be
upheld, for the Master — the Lord — is mighty to support
him and make him stand.
5 One man esteems one day as better than another,
while another man esteems all days alike [sacred]. Let
every one be fully convinced (satisfied) in his own mind.
6 He who observes the day, observes it in honor
of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord,
ROMANS 14 591
since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains,
abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
7 None of us lives to himself Cbut to the Lord),
and none of us dies to himself Cbut to the Lord, for)
8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we
die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die,
we belong to the Lord.
9 For Christ died and lived again for this very pur-
pose, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of
the living.
10 Why do you criticize and pass judgment on
your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or
despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of God.
11 For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every
knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to
God — that is, acknowledge Him to His honor and to
His praise. [Is. 45:23.]
12 And so each of us shall give an account of him-
self — give an answer in reference to judgment — to God.
13 Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass
judgment on one another, but rather decide and en-
deavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or
a hindrance in the way of a brothcr.
14 1 know and am convinced (persuaded) as one in
the Lord Jesus, that nothing is [forbidden as] essentially
unclean — that is, defiled and unholy in itself. But [none
the less] it is unclean (defiled and unholy) to any one
who thinks it is unclean.
15 But if your brother is being pained or his feelings
hurt or if he is being injured by what you eat, [then]
592 ROMANS 14
you are no longer walking in love. — That is, you have
ceased to be living and conducting yourself by the
standard of love toward him. Do not let what you eat
hurt or cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died!
16 Do not therefore let what seems good to you
be considered an evil thing [by someone else]. — [In
other words], do not give occasion for others to criticize
that which is justifiable for you.
17 [After all], the kingdom of God is not a matter of
[getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead, it
is righteousness — that state which makes a person ac-
ceptable to God — and heart-peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit.
18 He who serves Christ in this way is acceptable
and pleasing to God and is approved by men.
19 So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pur-
sue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding
Cedification and development) of one another.
20 You must not, for the sake of food, undo and
break down and destroy the work of God! Everything
is indeed (ceremonially) clean and pure, but it is wrong
for any one to hurt the conscience of others or to make
them fall by what he eats.
21 The right thing is to eat no meat or drink no
wine [at all], or [do anything else] if it [hurts your
brother’s conscience or] makes him stumble, or offends
or weakens him.
22 Your personal convictions [on such matters] exer-
cise as in God’s presence, keeping them to yourself —
striving only to know the truth and obey His will.
ROMANS 15 593
Blessed, happy, *to be envied is he who has no reason to
judge himself for what he approves — who does not con-
vict himself by what he chooses to do.
23 But the man who has doubts — misgivings, an un-
easy conscience — about eating, and then eats [perhaps
because of you], stands condemned [before God], be-
cause he is not true to his convictions and he does not
act from faith. For whatever does not originate and pro-
ceed from faith is sin — that is, whatever is done without
a conviction of its approval by God is sinful.
CHAPTER 15
E who are strong [in our convictions and of robust
faith] ought to bear with the failings and the
frailties and the tender scruples of the weak. — We ought
to help carry the doubts and qualms of others — and not
to please ourselves.
2 Let each one of us make it a practice to please
Cmake happy) his neighbor for his good and for his true
welfare, to edify him —that is, to strengthen him and
build him up spiritually.
3 For Christ (gave no thought to His own interests)
to please Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches
and abuses of those who reproached and abused you fell
on Me. [Ps. 69:9.]
4 For whatever was thus written in former days was
written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and
patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from
the Scriptures we might hold fast and cherish hope.
5 Now may the God Who gives the power of patient
*Souter.
594 ROMANS 15
endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encourage-
ment, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and
such full sympathy with one another, in accord with
Christ Jesus,
6 ‘That together you may Cunanimously) with united
hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
7 Welcome and receive (to your hearts) one another,
then, even as Christ has welcomed and received you, for
the glory of God.
8 For I tell you that Christ, the Messiah, became
a servant and a minister to the circumcised [the Jews]
in order to show God’s truthfulness and honesty by con-
firming (verifying) the promises [given to our] fathers.
9 And [also in order] that the Gentiles might glorify
God for [His uncovenanted] mercy to them. As it is
written, Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles,
and sing praises to Your name. [Ps. 18:49.]
10 Again it is said, Rejoice Cexult), O Gentiles, along
with His [own] people; [Deut. 32:43.]
11 And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles (na-
tions), and let all the peoples praise Him! [Ps. 117:1.]
12 And further Isaiah says, There shall be a »Sprout
from the ‘Root of Jesse, He Who rises to rule over the
Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles hope. [Is. 11:1,10.]
13 May the God of your hope so All you with all
joy and peace in believing — through the experience of
your faith — that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may
abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.
14 Personally I am satisfied about you, my brethren,
b Abbott-Smith. 1 Rev. 5:5; 22:16.
ROMANS 15 595
that you yourselves are rich in goodness, amply filled
with all [spiritual] knowledge and competent to ad-
monish and counsel and instruct one another also.
15 Still on some points I have written to you the
more boldly and unreservedly by way of reminder. [I
have done so] because of the grace — the unmerited favor
— bestowed on me by God
16 In making me a minister of Christ Jesus to the
Gentiles. I act in the priestly service of the Gospel (the
good news) of God, in order that the sacrificial offering
of the Gentiles may be acceptable [to God], consecrated
and made holy by the Holy Spirit.
17 In Christ Jesus, then, 1 have legitimate reason to
glory (το exult) in my work for God — in what through
Christ Jesus I have accomplished concerning the things
of God.
18 For [of course] I will not venture (presume) to
speak thus of any work except what Christ has actually
done through me —as an instrument in His hands — to
win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed,
19 [And as my preaching has been accompanied]
with the power of signs and wonders, [and all of it] by
the power of the Holy Spirit. So that starting from
Jerusalem and as far round as Illyricum I have fully
preached the Gospel — faithfully executing, accomplish-
ing, carrying out to the full the good news - of Christ,
the Messiah, in its entirety.
20 ‘Thus my ambition has been to preach the Gospel,
not where Christ's name has already been known, lest
I build on another man’s foundation;
21 But [instead I would act on the principle], as it is
596 ROMANS 15
written, They shall see who have never been told of
Him, and they shall understand who have never heard
fof Him]. [[5. 52:15.]
22 This [ambition] is the reason why I have so fre-
quently been hindered from coming to visit you.
23 But now since I have no further opportunity for
work in these regions, and since I have longed for
henough years to come to you,
24 I hope to see you in passing [through Rome] as I
go [on my intended trip] to Spain, and to be aided on
my journey there by you, after 1 have enjoyed your com-
pany for a little while.
25 For the present, however, 1 am going to Jerusa-
lem to bring aid Crelief) for the saints — God’s people
there.
26 For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia
and Achaia to make some contribution for the poor
among the saints of Jerusalem.
27 ‘They were pleased to do it, and surely they
are in debt to them, for if these Gentiles have come to
share in their [the Jerusalem Jews’] spiritual blessings,
then they ought also to be of service to them in material
blessings.
28 When therefore I have completed this mission,
and have delivered to them [at Jerusalem] what has been
raised, I shall go on by way of you to Spain.
29 And I know that when I do come to you I shall
come in the abundant blessing of the Gospel of Christ.
30 1 appeal to you — I entreat you — brethren, for the
sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love [given by]
» Vincent.
ROMANS 16 597
the Spirit, to unite with me in earnest wrestling in
prayer to God in my behalf.
31 {Pray} that I may be delivered (rescued) from
the unbelievers in Judea, and that my mission of relief
to Jerusalem may be acceptable and graciously received
by the saints — God’s people there.
32 So that by God’s will 1 may subsequently come
to you with joy — with a happy heart — and be refreshed
[by the interval of rest] in your company.
33 May [our] peace-giving God be with you all!
Amen — so be it.
CHAPTER 16
OW I introduce and commend to you our sister
Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae,
2 That you may receive her in the Lord—with a
Christian welcome — as saints (God’s people) ought to
receive one another. And help her in whatever matter
she may require assistance from you, for she has been a
helper of many including myself — shielding us from
suffering.
3 Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my fellow
workers in Christ Jesus,
4 Who risked their lives — endangering their very
necks — for my life. To them not only 1 but also all the
churches among the Gentiles give thanks.
5 [Remember me] also to the church [that meets] in
their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was
a first Fruit Cconvert) to Christ in Asia.
6 Greet Mary, who has worked so hard among you.
7 Remember me to Andronicus and Junias, my tribal
598 ROMANS 16
kinsmen and once my fellow prisoners. ‘They are men
held in high esteem among the apostles, who also were
in Christ before I was.
8 Remember me to Ampliatus, my beloved in the
Lord.
9 Salute Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and
my dear Stachys.
10 Greet Apelles, that one tried and approved in
Christ, the Messiah. Remember me to those who be-
long to the household of Aristobulus.
11] Greet my tribal kinsman Herodion, and those
in the Lord who belong to the household of Narcissus.
12 Salute those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and
Tryphosa. Greet my dear Persis, who has worked so
hard in the Lord.
13 Remember me to Rufus, eminent in the Lord,
also to his mother [who has been] a mother to me also.
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas,
Hermas, and the brethren who are with them.
15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and
Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy (consecrated) kiss.
All the churches of Christ, the Messiah, wish to be re-
membered to you.
17 I appeal to you, brethren, to be on your guard
concerning those who create dissensions and difficulties
and cause divisions, in opposition to the doctrine — the
teaching — which you have been taught. [I warn you
to turn aside from them, to] avoid them.
18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ
but their own appetites and base desires, and by in-
ROMANS 16 599
gratiating and flattering speech they beguile the hearts
of the unsuspecting and simple-minded [people].
19 For while your loyalty and obedience is known
to all, so that I rejoice over you, I would have you well-
versed and wise as to what is good, and innocent and
guileless as to what is evil.
20 And the God of peace will soon crush Satan
under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Messiah, be with you.
21 ‘Timothy, my fellow worker, wishes to be remem-
bered to you, as do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my
tribal kinsmen.
22 I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in
the Lord.
23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church
here, greets you. So do Erastus, the city treasurer, and
our brother Quartus.
24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah,
be with you all. Amen — so be it.
25 Now to Him Who is able to strengthen you in
the faith which is in accordance with my Gospel and
the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ, the Messiah,
according to the revelation—the unveiling—of the
mystery of the plan of redemption which was kept in
silence and secret for long ages,
26 But is now disclosed and through the prophetic
Scriptures is made known to all nations, according to
the command of the eternal God, [to win them] to obedi-
ence to the faith,
27 To [the] only wise God be glory for evermore
through Jesus Christ, the Anointed One! Amen — s0 be 11.
THE FIRST LETTER OF PAUL
TO THE
CORINTHIANS
CHAPTER 1
Ρ summoned by the will and purpose of God
to be an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus,
and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church (assembly) of God which is in
Corinth, to those consecrated and purified and made
holy in Christ Jesus, [who are] selected and called to
be saints (God’s people) together with all those who
in any place call upon and give honor to the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3. Grace (favor and spiritual blessing) be to you and
Cheart) peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
4 I thank my God at all times for you because of
the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God which
was bestowed on you in Christ Jesus.
5 [So] that in Him in every respect you were en-
riched, in full power and readiness of speech (to speak
of your faith), and complete knowledge and illumination
Cto give you full insight into its meaning).
6 In this way [our] witnessing concerning Christ,
the Messiah, was so confirmed and established and made
sure in you
7 That you are not (consciously) falling behind or
lacking in any special spiritual endowment or Christian
grace (*the reception of which is due to the power of
“Thayer's “Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament—Grimm.”
600
1 CORINTHIANS 1 601
divine grace operating in your souls by the Holy Spirit),
while you wait and watch Cconstantly living in hope)
for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and [His] being
made visible to all.
8 And He will establish you to the end — keep you
steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindica-
tion, that is, be your warrant against all accusation or
indictment — [so that you will be] guiltless and irre-
proachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Messiah.
9 God is faithful — reliable, trustworthy and [there-
fore] ever true to His promise, and He can be depended
on; by Him you were called into companionship and
participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect
harmony, and full agreement in what you say, and that
there be no dissensions or factions or divisions among
you; but that you be perfectly united in your common
understanding and in your opinions and judgments.
11 For it has been made clear to me, my brethren,
by those of Chloe’s household that there are contentions
and wrangling and factions among you.
12 What | mean is this, that each one of you [either]
says, I belong to Paul, or I belong to Apoilos, or I belong
to Cephas (Peter), or I belong to Christ.
13 Is Christ, the Messiah, divided into parts? Was
Paul crucified on behalf of you? Or were you baptized
into the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you
except Crispus and Gaius,
602 1 CORINTHIANS 1
15 Lest anyone should say that I baptized in my
own name.
16 [Yes] I did baptize the household of Stephanas,
also. More than these, I do not remember that I baptized
anyone.
17 For Christ, the Messiah, sent me out not to
baptize but (to evangelize by) preaching the glad tidings
(the Gospel); and that not with verbal eloquence, lest
the cross of Christ should be deprived of force and
emptied of its power and rendered vain — fruitless, void
of value and of no effect.
18 For the story and message of the cross is sheer
absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on
their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved
it is the [manifestation of] the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will baffle and render useless
and destroy the learning of the learned and the philoso-
phy of the philosophers and the cleverness of the clever
and the discernment of the discerning, I will frustrate
and nullify [them] and bring [them] to nothing. [15.
29:14.]
20 Where is the wise man — the philosopher? Where
is the scribe — the scholar? Where is the investigator —
the logician, the debater — of this present time and age?
Has not God shown up the nonsense and the folly of this
world’s wisdom?
21 For when the world with all its earthly wisdom
failed to perceive and recognize and know God by means
of its own philosophy, God in His wisdom was pleased
through the foolishness of preaching [of salvation, pro-
cured by Christ and to be had through Him], to save
1 CORINTHIANS 1 603
those who believed — who clung to and trusted in and
relied on Him.
22 For while Jews (demandingly) ask for signs and
miracles, and Greeks pursue philosophy and wisdom,
23 We preach Christ, the Messiah, crucified, which
to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block
(that springs a snare-trap), and to the Gentiles it is ab-
surd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense.
24 But to those who are called, whether Jew or
Greek (Gentile), Christ [is] the power of God and the
wisdom of God.
25 [This is] because the foolish thing [that has its
source in] God is wiser than men, and the weak thing
[that springs from] God is stronger than men.
26 For [simply] consider your own call, brethren;
not many [of you were considered to be] wise, according
to human estimates and standards; not many influential
and powerful; not many of high and noble birth.
27 [No,] for God selected — deliberately chose —
what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and
what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame.
28 And God also selected — deliberately chose —
[what] in the world [is] lowborn and insignificant, and
branded and treated with contempt, even the things that
are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing
the things that are;
29 So that no mortal man should Chave pretense for
glorying and) boast in the presence of God.
30 But it is from Him that you have your life in
Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God,
[that is, revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan
of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our
604 1 CORINTHIANS 2
Righteousness and thus making us upright and putting us
in right standing with God; and our Consecration — mak-
ing us pure and holy; and our Redemption — providing
our ransom from eternal penalty for sin.
31 So then, as it is written, Let him who boasts and
proudly rejoices and glories, boast and proudly rejoice
and glory in the Lord. [Jer. 9:24.]
CHAPTER 2
S for myself, brethren, when I came to you [I]
did not come proclaiming to you the testimony
and evidence or *mystery or secret of God [concerning
what He has done through Christ for the salvation of
men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy
and wisdom;
2 For I resolved to know nothing — to be acquainted
with [nothing], to make a display of the knowledge of
(nothing], and to be conscious of [nothing] — among
you except Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Him crucified.
3 And I (passed into a state of) weakness and was
in fear (dread) and great trembling [after 1 had come]
among you.
4 And my language and my message were not set
forth in persuasive Centicing and plausible) words of
wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the CHoly)
Spirit and power, [that is, ‘a proof by the Spirit and
power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds
of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuad-
ing them],
*Many ancient authorities so read. bVincent. ;
¢Thayer’s “‘Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament—Grimm.”’
1 CORINTHIANS 2 605
5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of
nen Chuman philosophy), but in the power of God.
6 Yet when we are among the full-grown — spiritual-
y mature Christians who are ripe in understanding —
ve do impart a (higher) wisdom, [that is, the knowledge
the divine plan previously hidden]; but it is indeed
10t a wisdom of this present age nor of this world or of
he leaders and rulers of this age, who are being brought
o nothing and are doomed to pass away.
7 But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom
~ God once hidden [from the human understanding]
ind now revealed to us by God; [that wisdom] which
sod devised and decreed before the ages for our glorih-
ration, [that is, to lift us into the glory of His presence].
8 None of the rulers of this age or world perceived
wid recognized and understood this; for if they had, they
would never have crucifhed the Lord of glory.
9 But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What
ἔνα has not seen, and ear has not heard, and has not
>ntered into the heart of man, [all that,] God has pre-
pared — made and keeps ready — for those who love Him
[that is, for those who hold Him ‘in affectionate rever-
ence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing
the benefits He has bestowed]. [Is. 64:4; 65:17.]
10 Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them
by and through His Spirit, for the CHoly) Spirit searches
diligently, exploring and examining everything, even
sounding the profound and bottomless things of God —
the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s
scrutiny.
«Thayer.
606 1 CORINTHIANS 2
11] For what person perceives (knows and under-
stands) what passes through a man’s thoughts except the
man’s own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns
Ccomes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God
except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have not received the spirit (that belongs
to) the world, but the CHoly) Spirit Who is from God,
[given to us} that we might realize and comprehend and
appreciate the gifts Cof divine favor and blessing so freely
and lavishly) bestowed on us by God.
13 And we are setting these truths forth in words not
taught by human wisdom but taught by the (Holy) Spirit,
combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual
language [to those who possess the CHoly) Spirit}.
14 But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept
or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teach-
ings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are
folly Cmeaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable
of knowing them — of progressively recognizing, under-
standing and becoming better acquainted with them —
because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and
appreciated.
15 But the spiritual man tries all things — [that is]
he °examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and
discerns all things; yet is himself to be put on trial and
judged by no one. — He can read the meaning of every-
thing, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get
an insight into him.
16 For who has known or understood the mind (the
counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and
bLightfoot.
1 CORINTHIANS 3 607
————a,
instruct [Him] and give Him knowledge? But we have
the mind of Christ, the Messiah, avzd do hold the
thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. []5.
40:13.]
CHAPTER 3
OWEVER, brethren, I could not talk to you as to
spiritual [men], but as to nonspiritual Cmen of the
flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates), as to
mere infants [in the new life] in Christ — cunable to talk
yet!
2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were
not yet strong enough [to be ready for it]; but even yet
you are not strong enough [to be ready for it],
3. For vou are still Cunspiritual, having the nature) of
the Mesh — under the control of ordinary impulses. For
as long as [there are] envying and jealousy and wrangling
and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of
the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard
and like mere (unchanged) men?
4 For when one says, I belong to Paul, and another,
I belong to Apollos, are you not [proving yourselves]
ordinary (unchanged) men?
5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Ministering
servants [not heads of parties], through whom you be-
lieved, even as the Lord appointed to each his task:
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while]
was making it grow, and [He] gave the increase.
7 So neither he who plants is anything nor he who
‘Literally, ‘‘non-speakers.’”’
608 1 CORINTHIANS: 3
waters, but [only] God Who makes it grow and become
greater.
8 He who plants and he who waters are equal — one
in aim, of the same importance and esteem — yet each
shall receive his own reward Cwages), according to
his own labor.
9 For we are fellow workmen — joint promoters,
laborers together — with and for God; you are God’s 4gar-
den and vineyard and field under cultivation; [you are]
God’s building. [Is. 61:3.]
10 According to the grace — the special endowment
for my task —of God bestowed on me, like a skilful
architect and master builder I laid [the] foundation, and
now another [man] is building upon it. But let each
[man] be careful how he builds upon it,
11 For no other foundation can any one lay than
that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ, the
Messiah, the Anointed One.
12 But if anyone builds upon the Foundation,
whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood,
hay, straw,
13 The work of each [one] will become (plainly,
openly) known — shown for what it is; for the day Cof
Christ) will disclose and declare it, because it will be
revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically
appraise the character and worth of the work each
person has done.
14 If the work which any person has built on this
Foundation — any product of his efforts whatever — sur-
vives (this test), he will get his reward.
*Bengel.
1 CORINTHIANS 3 609
15 But if any person’s work is burned up [under the
test], he will suffer the loss Cof it all, losing his reward),
though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who
has passed] through fre. [Job 23:10.]
16 Do you not discern and understand that you [the
whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple CHis sanctu-
ary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling
in you — to be at home in you [¢collectively as a church
and also individually]?
17 If anyone ‘does hurt to God’s temple or corrupts
[eit with false doctrines] or destroys it, God will ‘do
hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and
destroy him. For the temple of God is holy — sacred to
Him —and that [temple] you [*the believing church
and its individual believers] are.
18 Let no person deceive himself. If any one among
you supposes that he is wise in this age — let him discard
his [worldly] discernment and recognize himself as dull,
stupid and foolish, without [true] Jearning and scholar-
ship; let him become a fool that he may become [really]
wise. [Is. 5:21.]
19 For this world’s wisdom is foolishness — absurdity
and stupidity — with God. For it is written, He lays
hold of the wise in their [own] craftiness; [Job 5:13.}
20 And again, The Lord knows the thoughts ad
reasonings of the [humanly] wise and recognizes how
futile they are. [Ps. 94:11.]
21 So let no one exult proudly concerning men
[boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all
things are yours,
¢ Matthew Henry and many others. f Cambridge Bible.
610 1 CORINTHIANS 4
22 Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter), or
the universe or life or death, or the immediate and
‘threatening present or the [subsequent and uncertain]
future; all are yours,
23 And you are Christ's, and Christ is God’s.
CHAPTER 4
O then let us [apostles] be looked upon as minis-
tering servants of Christ and stewards (trustees) of
the mysteries — that is, the secret purposes — of God.
2 Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards
that a man should be found faithful — proving himself
worthy of trust.
3 But Cas for me personally) it matters very little to
me that I should be put on trial by you [on this point],
and that you or any other human tribunal should investi-
gate and question and cross-question me. I do not even
put myself on trial and judge myself.
4 Iam not conscious of anything against myself, and
I feel blameless; but I am not vindicated and acquitted
before God on that account. It is the Lord [Himself]
Who examines and judges me.
5 So do not make any hasty or premature judgments
before the time when the Lord comes [again], for He
will both bring to light the secret things that are (now
hidden) in darkness, and disclose and expose the (secret,
aims (motives and purposes) of hearts. Then every man
will receive his (due) commendation from God.
6 Now I have applied all this [about parties and
factions] to myself and Apollos for your sakes, brethren,
Vincent.
1 CORINTHIANS 4 611
so that from what I have said of us [as illustrations] you
may learn [to think of men in accordance with Scripture
and] not to go beyond that which is written; that none
of you may be puffed up and inflated with pride and
boast in favor of one [minister and teacher] against
another.
7 For who separates you from the others [as a faction
leader]? — Who makes you superior and sets you apart
from another, giving you the pre-eminence? What have
you that was not given to you? If then you received it
{from someone], why do you boast as if you had not
received (but had gained it by your own efforts)?
8 [*You behave as if] you are already filled and think
you have enough — you are full and content, feeling no
necd of anything more! Already you have become rich
Cin spiritual gifts and graces)! [Without any counsel or
instruction from us, that is, in your conceit], you have
ascended your thrones and come into your kingdom
without including us! And would that it were true and
that you did reign, so that we might be sharing the king-
dom with you!
9 For it seems to me that God has made an exhibit of
us apostles, exposing us to view last [of all, like men in a
triumphal procession who are] sentenced to death [and
displayed at the end of the line]. For we have become
a spectacle to the world —a show in the world’s amphi-
theatre — with both men and angels (as spectators).
10 We are [looked upon as] fools on account of
Christ and for His sake, but you are [supposedly] so
amazingly wise and prudent in Christ! We are weak,
612 1 CORINTHIANS 4
but you are [so very] strong! You are highly esteemed,
but we are in disrepute and contempt!
11 To this hour we have gone both hungry and
thirsty; we “habitually wear but one undergarment
{and shiver in the cold]; we are roughly knocked about
and wander around homeless.
12 And we still toil unto weariness [for our living],
working hard with our own hands. When men revile
us — that is, »wound us with an accursed sting — we bless
them. When we are persecuted, we take it patiently
and endure it.
13 When we are slandered and defamed, we [try to}
answer softly and bring comfort. We have been made
and are now the rubbish and filth of the world — the off-
scouring of all things, the scum of the earth.
14 I do not write this to shame you, but to warn and
counsel you as my beloved children.
15 After all, though you should have ten thousand
teachers (guides to direct you.) in Christ, yet you do not
have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ
Jesus through the glad tidings (the Gospel).
16 So I urge and implore you, be imitators of me.
17 For this very cause I sent to you Timothy who is
my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord, who will
recall to your minds my methods of proceeding and
course of conduct and way of life in Christ, such as I
teach everywhere in each of the churches.
18 Some of you have become conceited and arrogant
and pretentious, counting on my not coming to you.
19 But I will come to you [and] shortly, if the Lord
«Souter. bWuest’s ‘“‘Byways in the Greek New Testament,”’
1 CORINTHIANS 5 613
is willing, and then I will perceive and understand not
what the talk of these puffed up and arrogant spirits
amount to, but their force —that is, *the moral power
and excellence of soul they really possess.
20 For the kingdom of God consists of and is based
on not talk but power — "moral power and excellence
of soul.
21 Now which do you prefer? Shall I come to you
with a rod of correction, or with love and in a spirit of
gentleness?
CHAPTER 5
T is actually reported that there is sexual immorality
among you, impurity of a sort that is condemned
and does not occur even among the heathen; for a man
has [his own] father’s wife. [Deut. 22:30, 27:20.]
2 And you are proud and arrogant! And you ought
rather to mourn — bow in sorrow and in shame — until
the person who has done this (shameful) thing is re-
moved from your fellowship and your midst!
3 As for my attitude, though I am absent [from you]
in body, I am present in spirit, and I have already de-
cided and passed judgment, as if actually present,
4 Inthe name of the Lord Jesus Christ, on the man
who has committed such a deed. When you and my own
spirit are met together with the power of our Lord Jesus,
5 You are to deliver this man over to Satan for
physical discipline —to destroy carnal lusts [which
*Thayer’s ‘‘Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament—Grimm.”’
bAbbott-Smith’s “Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.”’
614 1 CORINTHIANS 5
prompted him to incest] — that [his] spirit may [yet] be
saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6 [About the condition of your church] your boast-
ing is not good — indeed it is most unseemly and entirely
out of place. Do you not know that [just] a little leaven
will ferment the whole lump [of dough]?
7 Purge (clean out) the old leaven that you may be
fresh (new) dough, still uncontaminated (as you are),
for Christ, our Passover [Lamb], has been sacrificed.
8 ‘Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old
leaven, nor with leaven of vice and malice and wicked-
ness, but with the unleavened [bread] of purity Cnobil-
ity, honor) and sincerity and Cunadulterated) truth.
[Ex. 12:19; 13:7; Deut. 16:3.]
9 1 wrote you in my [previous] letter not to associate
(closely and habitually) with unchaste (impure) people;
10 Not [meaning of course that you must] altogether
shun the immoral people of this world, or the greedy
graspers and cheats and thieves or idolaters, since other-
wise you would need to get out of the world and human
society altogether!
11 But now I write to you not to associate with any:
one who bears the name of [Christian] brother, if he is
known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an
idolater — that is, whose soul is devoted to any object
that usurps the place of God — or [is] a person with a
foul tongue (railing, abusing, reviling, slandering), or is
a drunkard, or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must
not so much as eat with such a person.
12 What [business] of mine is it and what right have
I to judge outsiders? Is it not those inside [the church]
1 CORINTHIANS 6 615
upon whom you are to pass disciplinary judgment — pass-
ing censuring sentence on them [as the facts require]?
13 God alone sits in judgment on those who are
outside. Drive out that wicked one from among you —
expel him from your church.
CHAPTER 6
OES any of you dare, when he has a matter of
complaint against another [brother], to go to law
before unrighteous men — men neither upright nor right
with God, laying it before them — instead of before the
saints (the people of God)?
2 Do you not know that the saints [the Christians]
will [one day] judge avd govern the world? And if the
world [itself] is to be judged and ruled by you, are you
unworthy and incompetent to try [such petty matters]
of the smallest courts of justice?
3 Do you not know also that we [Christians] are to
judge the [very] angels and pronounce opinion between
tight and wrong [for them]? How much more then [as
to] matters pertaining to this world and of this life only!
4 If then you do have such cases of everyday life
to decide, why do you appoint [as judges to lay them
before], those who [from the standpoint] of the church
count for least and are without standing?
5 I say this to move you to shame. Can it be that
there really is not one man among you who [in action is
governed by piety and integrity and] is wise and compe-
tent enough to decide [the private grievances, disputes
and quarrels] between members of the brotherhood,
6 But brother goes to Jaw against brother, and that
616 1 CORINTHIANS 6
before [Gentile judges] who are unbelievers — without
faith or trust in the Gospel of Christ?
7 Why, the very fact of your having lawsuits with
one another at all is a defect — a defeat, an evidence of
positive moral loss for you. Why not rather let your-
selves suffer wrong and be deprived of what is your
due? Why not rather be cheated — defrauded and robbed?
8 But [instead it is you] yourselves who wrong and
defraud, and that even your own brethren [by so treating
them]!
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous and the
wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the
kingdom of God? Do not be deceived Cmisled); neither
the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
those who participate in homosexuality,
10 Nor cheats —swindlers and thieves; nor greedy
graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and
slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or
have any share in the kingdom of God.
11 And such some of you were Conce). But you were
washed clean [purified by a complete atonement for sin
and made free from the guilt of sin]; and you were con-
secrated (set apart, hallowed); and you were justified
(pronounced righteous, by trust) in the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ and in the CHoly) Spirit of our God.
12 Everything is permissible for me — allowable and
lawful; but not all things are helpful — good for me to
do, expedient and profitable when considered with other
things. Everything is lawful for me, but I will not
become the slave of anything‘ or be brought under its
power.
1 CORINTHIANS 6 617
13 Food [is intended] for the stomach and the
stomach for food, but God will finally end [the functions
of] both and bring them to nothing. The body is not
intended for sexual immorality, but [is intended] for the
Lord, and the Lord [is intended] for the body [*to save,
sanctify and raise it again].
14 And God both raised the Lord to life and will also
raise us up by His power.
15 Do you not see avd know that your bodies are
members (bodily parts) of Christ, the Messiah? Am I
therefore to take the parts of Christ and make [them]
parts of a prostitute? Never! Never!
16 Or do you not know and realize that when a man
joins himself to a prostitute he becomes one body with
her? The two, it is written, shall become one flesh. [Gen.
2:24.]
17 But the person who is united to the Lord becomes
one spirit with Him.
18 Shun immorality and all sexual looseness — flee
from impurity [in thought, word or deed]. Any other
sin which a man commits is one outside the body, but he
who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
19 Do you not know that your body is the temple —
the very sanctuary — of the Holy Spirit Who lives within
vou, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God?
You are not your own,
20 You were bought for a price — purchased with a
bpreciousness and paid for, °*made His own. So then,
honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.
4 Cambridge Bible. (See Rom. 8:11; I Cor. 15:35-54.) b Thayer.
618 1 CORINTHIANS 7
CHAPTER 7
OW as to the matters of which you wrote me.
It is well — [and by that I mean] advantageous, ex-
pedient, profitable and wholesome — for a man not to
touch a woman (to cohabit with her), but to remain un-
married.
2 But because of the temptation to impurity and to
avoid immorality, let each [man] have his own wife and
let each [woman] have her own husband.
3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal
rights — goodwill, kindness and what is due her as his
wife; and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 For the wife does not have [exclusive] authority
and control over her own body, but the husband [has his
rights]; likewise also the husband does not have [exclu-
sive] authority and control over his body, but the wife
[has her rights].
5 Do not refuse and deprive and defraud each other
Cof your due marital rights), except perhaps by mutual
consent for a time, that you may devote yourselves un-
hindered to prayer. But afterwards resume marital re-
lations, lest Satan tempt you [to sin] through your lack
of restraint of sexual desire. [Ex. 19:15.]
6 But I am saying this more as a matter of permission
and concession, not as a command or regulation.
7 I wish that all men were like I myself am [in this
matter of self-control]. But each has his own special
gift from God, one of this kind and one of another.
8 But to the unmarried people and to the widows, I
declare that it is well — good, advantageous, expedient and
wholesome — for them to remain [single] even as I do.
1 CORINTHIANS 7 619
9 But if they have not self-control Crestraint of their
passions), they should marry. For it is better to marry
than to be aflame (with passion and tortured continually
with ungratihed desire).
10 But to the married [people] I give charge, not I
but the Lord, that the wife is not to separate from her
husband.
11 But if she does [separate from and divorce him],
let her remain single or else be reconciled to her hus-
band. And [I charge] the husband [also] that he should
not put away or divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I declare, I, not the Lord [for Jesus
did not discuss this], that if any brother has a wife who
does not believe [on Christ], and she consents to live
with him, he should not leave or divorce her.
13. And if any woman has an unbelieving husband,
and he consents to live with her, she should not leave or
divorce him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is set apart Csepa-
rated, withdrawn from heathen contamination and affli-
ated with the Christian people) by union with his con-
secrated (set-apart) wife; and the unbelieving wife is set
apart and separated through union with her consecrated
husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean
[unblessed heathen, ‘outside the Christian covenant], but
as it is they are “prepared for God — pure and clean.
15 But if the unbelieving partner [actually] leaves,
let him do so; in such [cases the remaining] brother or
sister is not morally bound. But God has called us to
peace.
¢ Jamieson, Fausset and Brown. 4 Thayer.
620 1 CORINTHIANS 7
16 For, wife, how can you be sure of converting and
saving your husband? WHusband, how can you be sure
of converting and saving your wife?
17 Only, let each one (seek to conduct himself and
regulate his affairs so as to) lead the life which the Lord
has allotted and imparted to him, and to which God has
invited and summoned him. ‘This is my order in all
the churches.
18 Was anyone at the time of his summons [from
God] already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove
the evidence of circumcision. Was anyone at the time
[God] called him, uncircumcised? Let him not be cir-
cumcised.
19 For circumcision is nothing and counts for noth-
ing, neither does uncircumcision, but [what counts is]
keeping the commandments of God.
20 Every one should remain after God calls him in
the station or condition of life in which the summons
found him.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not
let that trouble you. But if you are able to gain your
freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.
22 For he who as a slave was summoned in [to union
with] the Lord is a freedman of the Lord; just so he who
was free when he was called is a bond servant of Christ,
the Messiah.
23 You were bought with a price — purchased with
a preciousness and paid for [by Christ]; then do not
yield yourselves up to become [in your own estimation]
slaves to men, [but consider yourselves slaves to Christ].
24 So, brethren, in whatever station or state or con-
1 CORINTHIANS 7 62)
dition of life each one was when he was called, Jet him
continue there, with and close to God.
25 Now concerning the virgins —the marriageable
’maidens —I have no command of the Lord, but I give
my opinion and advice as one who by the Lord’s mercy
is rendered trustworthy and faithful.
26 I think then, because of the impending distress
(that is even now setting in), it is well — expedient,
profitable and wholesome — for a person to remain as he
or she is.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free.
Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28 But if you do marry, you do not sin [in doing so],
and if a virgin marries, she does not sin [in doing so].
Yet those who marry will have physical and earthly
troubles, and I would like to spare you that.
29 1 mean, brethren, the appointed time has been
’winding up and it has grown very short. From now on,
let even those who have wives be as if they had none,
30 And those who weep and mourn as though they
were not weeping and mourning, and those who rejoice
as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy
as though they did not possess anything,
31 And those who deal with this world — Pover-using
the enjoyments of this life — Jet them live as though they
were not absorbed by it, and as if they had no dealings
with it. For the outward form of this world — the present
world order — is passing away.
32 My desire is to have vou free from all anxiety
and distressing care. The unmarried [man] is anxious
>Vincent.
622 1 CORINTHIANS 7
about the things of the Lord, how he may please the
Lord;
33 But the married man is anxious about worldly
matters, how he may please [his] wife.
34 And he is drawn in diverging directions — his
interests are divided, and he is distracted [from his devo-
tion to God]. And the unmarried woman or girl is con-
cerned and anxious about the matters of the Lord, how
to be wholly separated and set apart in body and spirit;
but the married woman has her cares [centered] in earth-
ly affairs, how she may please her husband.
35 Now I say this for your own welfare and profit,
not to put (a halter of) restraint upon you, but to pro-
mote what is seemly and good order and to secure your
undistracted and undivided devotion to the Lord.
36 But if any man thinks that he is not acting proper-
ly toward and in regard to his virgin, [that he is preparing
disgrace for her or incurring reproach] in case she is
passing the bloom of her youth, and if there is need for
it, let him do what to him seems right; he does not sin;
let them marry.
37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart —
strong in mind and purpose — not being forced by neces-
sity but having control over his own will and desire, and
has resolved this in his heart, to keep his own virginity,
he is doing well.
38 So also then, he [the father] who gives [his
daughter, virgin] in marriage does well; and he [the
father] who does not give [her] in marriage does better.
39 A wife is bound to her husband by the law as
long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be
1 CORINTHIANS 8 623
married to whom she will, only [provided that he too is]
in the Lord.
40 But in my opinion [a widow] is happier (more
blessed and *to be envied) if she does not remarry. And
also I think I have the Spirit of God.
CHAPTER 8
OW about food offered to idols: of course we
know that all of us possess knowledge [concerning
these matters. Yet mere] knowledge causes people to be
puffed up — to bear themselves loftily and be proud; but
love, [that is] affection and goodwill and benevolence,
edifies and builds up and encourages one to grow [to his
full stature].
2 If any one imagines that he has come to know and
understand much [of divine things, without love], he
does not yet perceive and recognize and understand as
strongly and clearly, nor has he become as intimately
acquainted with anything as he ought or as is necessary.
3 But if one loves God truly — ‘with affectionate
reverence, prompt obedience and grateful recognition of
His blessing — he is known by God [that is, *recognized
as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned
by Him].
4 In this matter, then, of the eating of food offered
to idols, we know that an idol is nothing — has no real
existence — and that there is no God but One. [Deut.
6:4.]
“Souter’s ‘Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament.”
¢Thayer's ‘'Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament—Grimm.”’
624 1 CORINTHIANS 8
5 For although there may be so-called gods, whether
in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many of them,
both of gods and of lords and masters,
6 Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who
is the Source of all things, and for Whom we [have life],
and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by Whom are
all things and through and by Whom we [ourselves
exist]. [Mai. 2:10.1
7 Nevertheless, not all [believers] possess this
knowledge. But some, through being all their lives until
now accustomed to [thinking of] idols [as real and liv-
ing], still consider the food [offered to an idol] as that
sacrificed to an [actual] god; and their weak conscience
becomes defiled and injured [if they] eat [it].
8 Now food [itself] will not cause our acceptance by
God zor commend us to Him. Eating [food offered to
idols] gives us no advantage, neither do we come short
or become any the worse if we do not eat [it].
9 Only be careful that this power of choice — this
permission and liberty to do as you please — which is
yours, does not [somehow] become a hindrance (cause
of stumbling) to the weak or overscrupulous [giving
them an impulse to sin].
10 For suppose any one sees you, a man having
knowledge [of God, with an intelligent view of this
subject] reclining at table in an idol’s temple; might he
not be encouraged and emboldened [to violate his own
conscientious scruples], if he is weak and uncertain, and
eat what [to him] is for the purpose of idol worship?
11 And so by your enlightenment Cyour knowledge
of spiritual things), this weak man is ruined — is lost
1 CORINTHIANS 9 625
and perishes — the brother for whom Christ, the Messiah,
died!
12 And when you sin against your brethren in this
way, wounding and damaging their weak conscience,
you sin against Christ.
13 Therefore, if [my eating a] food is a cause of my
brother’s falling or of hindering [his spiritual advance-
ment], I will not eat [such] flesh forever, lest I cause my
brother to be tripped up and fall and to offend.
CHAPTER 9
M I not an apostle Ca special messenger)? Am I
not free — unrestrained and exempt from any ob-
ligation? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you
[yourselves] not (the product and proof of) my work-
manship in the Lord?
2 Even if I am not considered an apostle (a special
messenger) by others, at least I am one to you; for you
are the seal (the certificate, the living evidence) of my
apostleship in the Lord — confirming and authenticating
it.
3 This is my [real ground of] defense — my vindica-
tion of myself — to those who would put me on trial and
cross-examine me.
4 Have we not the right to our food and drink [at
the expense of the churches]?
5 Have we not the right also to take along with us
a Christian sister as wife, as do the other apostles and the
Lord’s brothers and Cephas (Peter)?
6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right
626 1 CORINTHIANS 9
to refrain from doing manual labor for a livelihood [in
order to go about the work of the ministry]?
7 [Consider this: ] What soldier at any time serves at
his own expense? Who plants a vinevard and does not
eat any of the fruit of it? Who tends a flock and does
not partake of the milk of the flock?
8 Do I say this only on human authority and as a
man reasons? Does not the Law endorse the same prin-
ciple?
9 For in the Law of Moses it is written, You shall
not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the corn. Is it
[only] for oxen that God is having a care? [Deut. 25:4.]
10 Or does He speak certainly and entirely for our
sakes? [Assuredly] it is written for our sakes, because the
plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher ought
to thresh in expectation of partaking of the harvest.
11] If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good
among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your ma-
terial benefits?
12 If others share in this rightful claim upon you,
do not we [have a still better and greater claim]? How-
ever, we have never exercised this right, but we endure
everything rather than put a hindrance in the way [of
the spread] of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ.
132 Do you not know that those men who are em-
ployed in the services of the temple get their food from
the temple? And that those who tend the altar share
with the altar [in the offerings brought]? [Deut. 18:1.]
14 (On the same principle) the Lord directed that
those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should
live Cget their maintenance) by the Gospel.
1 CORINTHIANS 9 627
15 But I have not made use of any of these privileges,
nor am I writing this [to suggest] that any such provision
be made for me [now]. For it would be better for me to
die than to have anyone make void and deprive me of
my [ground for] glorifying [in this matter].
16 For if I [merely] preach the Gospel, that gives me
no reason to boast, for I feel compelled of necessity to
do it. Woe is me if I do not preach the glad tidings (the
Gospel)!
17 For if I do this work of my own free will, then
I have my pay — my reward; but if it is not of my own
will, but is done reluctantly and under compulsion, I
am [still] entrusted with a [sacred] trusteeship and
commission.
18 What then is the [actual] reward that I get?
Just this: that in my preaching the good news (the
Gospel), I may offer it [absolutely] free of expense [to
anybody], not taking advantage of my rights and pnuivi-
leges [as a preacher of] the Gospel.
19 Yor although I am free in every way from anyv-
one’s control, I have made myself a bond servant to
everyone, so that I might gain the more [for Christ].
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win
Jews; to men under the Law, [I became] as one under
the Law, though not myself being under the Law, that
1 might win those under the Law.
21 ‘To those without law I became as one without
law, not that I am without the law of God and lawless
toward Him, but that I am [especially keeping] within
and committed to the law of Christ, that I might win
those who are without Coutside) law.
628 1 CORINTHIANS 10
22 To the weak (wanting in discernment) I have
become weak (wanting in discernment) that I might win
the weak and overscrupulous. I have [in short] become
all things to all men, that I might by all means — at all
costs and in any and every way — save some [by winning
them to faith in Jesus Christ].
23 And I do this for the sake of the good news (the
Gospel), in order that I may become a participator in it
and share in its [blessings along with you].
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners
compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run
[your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and
make it yours.
25 Now every athlete who goes into training con-
ducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all
things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither,
but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness |
that cannot wither.
26 Therefore I do not run uncertainly — without
definite aim. I do not box as one beating the air and
striking without an adversary.
27 But [like a boxer] I buffet my body — handle it
roughly, discipline it by hardships — and subdue it, for
fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and
things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit —
not stand the test and be unapproved — and rejected [as
a counterfeit].
CHAPTER 10
| ae I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren,
that our forefathers were every one of them under
and protected by the cloud [in which God’s Presence
1 CORINTHIANS 10 629
went before them], and every one of them passed safely
through the (Red) sea, [Ex. 13:21; 14:22, 29.]
2 And every one of them (allowed himself too) to be
baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, [that is,
they were thus brought under obligation to the Law, to
Moses and to the covenant, consecrated and set apart
to the service of God];
3 And all [of them] ate the same spiritual (super-
naturally given) food, [Ex. 16:4, 35.]
+ And they all drank the same supernaturally given
drink. For they drank from a spiritual Rock which fol-
lowed them — produced by the sole power of God Him-
self without natural instrumentality — and the Rock was
Christ. [Ex. 17:6; Num. 20:11.]
5 Nevertheless God was not pleased with the great
majority of them, for they were overthrown and strewn
down along [the ground] in the wilderness. [Num.
14:29, 30.]
6 Now these things are examples (warnings and
admonitions) for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust
after evil and carnal things as they did. [Num. 11:4, 34.]
7 Do not be worshippers of false gods as some of
them were, as it is written, The people sat down to eat
and drink [the sacrifices offered to the golden calf at
Horeb] and rose to sport —to dance and give way to
jesting and hilarity. [Ex. 32:4, 6.]
8 We must not gratify evil desire and indulge in
immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thou-
sand [suddenly] fell dead in a single day! [Num. 25:1-
18.]
9 We should not tempt the Lord — try His patience,
630 1 CORINTHIANS 10
become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him and exploit
His goodness — as some of them did and were killed by
poisonous serpents; [Num. 21:5, 6.]
10 Nor discontentedly complain as some of them did
and were "put out of the way entirely by the destroyer
{death]. [Num. 16:41, 49.]
11 Now these things befell them by way of a figure
— as an example and warning [to us]; they were written
to admonish and fit us for right action by good instruc-
tion, we in whose days the ages have reached their
climax — their consummation and concluding period.
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands — who
feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing
firm — take heed lest he fall [into sin].
13 For no temptation — no trial regarded as enticing
to sin [no matter how it comes or where it leads] — has
overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not com-
mon to man — that is, no temptation or trial has come
to you that is beyond human resistance and that is
not "adjusted and Padapted and belonging to human
experience, and such as man can bear. But God is
faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature],
and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and
tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of
resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation
He will [always] also provide the way out — the means
of escape to “ἃ landing place — that you may be capable
and strong and powerful patiently to bear up under it.
14 Therefore, my dearly beloved, shun — keep clear
away from, avoid by flight if need be — any sort of idol-
“Thayer. bAlFord. ¢Vincent.
1 CORINTHIANS 10 63]
atry Cof loving or venerating anything more than God).
15 I am speaking as to intelligent (sensible) men.
Think over and make up your minds [for yourselves]
about what I say.—I appeal to your reason and your
discernment in these matters.
16 The cup of blessing [of wine at the Lord’s Sup-
per} upon which we ask [God's] blessing, does it not
mean [that in drinking it] we participate in and share a
fellowship (a communion) in the blood of Christ, the
Messiah? The bread which we break, does it not mean
[that in eating it] we participate in and share a fellow-
ship (ἃ communion) in the body of Christ?
17 For we [no matter how] numerous we are, are
one body, because we all partake of the one Bread [the
One Whom the communion bread represents].
18 Consider those physically people of Israel. Are
not those who eat the sacrifices partners of the altar —
united in their worship of the same God? [Lev. 7:6.]
19 What do I imply then? That food offered to
idols is [intrinsically changed by the fact and amounts
to] anything or that an idol itself is a [living] thing?
20 No, I am suggesting that what the pagans sacri-
fice they offer [in effect] to demons — to evil spiritual
powers — and not to God [at all]. I do not want you to
fellowship and be partners with diabolical spirits [by
eating at their feasts]. [Deut. 32:17.]
21 You cannot drink the Lord’s cup and the demons’
cup. You cannot partake of the Lord’s table and the
demons’ table.
22 Shall we thus provoke the Lord to jealousy and
anger and indignation? Are we stronger than He [that
632 1 CORINTHIANS 10
we should defy Him]? [Deut. 32:21; Eccles. 6:10;
Is. 45:9.]
23 All things are legitimate — permissible, and we
are free to do anything we please; but not all things are
helpful Cexpedient, profitable and wholesome). All
things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive
{to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].
24 Let not one then seek his own good and advan-
tage and proht, but [rather let him seek the welfare of
his neighbor] each one of the other.
25 [As to meat offered to idols] eat anything that is
sold in the meat market without raising any question or
investigating on the grounds of conscientious scruples,
26 For the (whole) earth is the Lord’s and everything
that is in it. [Ps. 24:1; 50:12.]
27 In case one of the unbelievers invites you to a
meal and you want to go, eat whatever is served to you
without examining into its source because of conscien-
tious scruples.
28 But if some one tells you, This has been offered
in sacrifice to an idol, do not eat it, out of consideration
for the person who informed you, and for conscience’s
sake; [that is, ]
29 1 mean for the sake of his conscience, not yours,
{do not eat it]. For why should another man’s scruples
apply to me, and my liberty of action be determined by
his conscience?
30 If I partake [of my food] with thankfulness, why
am I accused and evil spoken of because of that for
which I give thanks?
1 CORINTHIANS 11 633
31 So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever
vou may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.
32 Do not let yourselves be [hindrances by giving]
offense to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of
God — *do not lead others into sin by your mode of life;
33 Just as I myself strive to please — to accommodate
myself to the opinions, desires and interests of others —
{adapting myself to] all men in everything I do; not aim-
ing at or considering my own proht and advantage, but
that of the many in order that they may be saved.
CHAPTER 1]
ATTERWN after me, follow my example, as I imitate
and follow Christ, the Messiah.
2 I appreciate and commend you because you always
remember me in everything and keep firm possession
of the traditions (the substance of my instructions), just
as I have (verbally) passed them on to you.
3 But I want you to know and realize that Christ
is the head of every man, the head of a woman is her
husband, and the Head of Christ is God.
4 Any man who prays or prophesies — that is, teaches,
refutes, reproves, admonishes and comforts — with his
head covered dishonors his Head (Christ).
5 And any woman who [publicly] prays or prophesies
(teaches, refutes, reproves, admonishes or comforts.) when
she is bareheaded dishonors her head (her husband);
it is the same as [if her head were] shaved.
6 For if a woman will not wear [a head] covering,
then she should cut off her hair too; but if it is disgrace-
«Thayer.
634 1 CORINTHIANS 11
ful for a woman to have her head shorn or shaven, let
her cover [her head].
7 Fora man ought not to wear anything on his head
[in church], for he is the image and [reflected] glory of
God, [that is, *his function of government reflects the
majesty of the divine Rule]; but woman is [the expres-
sion of] man’s glory (majesty, pre-eminence). [Gen.
1:26.]
8 For man was not [created] from woman, but
woman from man; [Gen. 2:2]-23.]
9 Neither was man created on account of or for the
benefit of woman, but woman on account of and for
the beneht of man. [Gen. 2:18.]
10 Therefore she should [be subject to his authority
and should] have a covering on her head [as a token, a
symbol, of her submission] to authority, [*that she may
show reverence as do] the angels and not displease them.
11 Nevertheless, in [the plan of] the Lord and from
His point of view woman is not apart from and inde-
pendent of man, nor is man aloof from and independent
of woman;
12 For as woman was made from man, even so man
is also born of woman. And all [whether male or female
go forth] from God (as their Author).
13 Consider for yourselves; is it proper and decent
[according to your customs] for a woman to offer prayer
to God [publicly] with her head uncovered?
14 Does not (experience, common sense, reason and)
‘the native sense of propriety itself teach you that for
®Thayer.
bKypke, quoted in Clarke’s Commentary.
1 CORINTHIANS 11 635
a man to wear long hair is a dishonor (humiliating and
degrading) to him,
15 But if a woman has long hair, it is her ornament
and glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.
16 Now if anyone is disposed to be argumentative
and contentious about this, we hold to and recognize no
other custom [in worship] than this, nor do the churches
of God generally.
17 But in what I instruct [you] next I do not com-
mend [you], because when you meet together it is not
for the better but for the worse.
18 For, in the first place, when you assemble as a
congregation, I hear that there are cliques Cdivisions and
factions) among you; and I in part believe it,
19 For doubtless there have to be factions or parties
among you in order that they who are genuine and of
approved fitness may become evident and plainly recog-
nized among you.
20 So when vou gather for your meetings, it is not
the Supper instituted by the Lord that you eat,
21] For in eating each one [hurries] to get his own
supper first [not waiting for the poor], and one goes
hungry while another gets drunk.
22 What! Do you have no houses in which to eat
and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and
mean to show contempt for it, while you humiliate those
who are poor—have no homes and have brought no
food? What shall I say to you? Shall 1 commend you
in this? No, [most certainly] I will not!
23 For I received from the Lord Elimself that which
I passed on to you—it was given to me personally;
636 1 CORINTHIANS 11
that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was treacher-
ously delivered up avd while His betrayal was in progress
took bread,
24 And when He had given thanks, He broke [it],
and said, Take, eat. ‘This is My body which is broken
for you. Do this to call Me [affectionately] to remem-
brance.
25 Similarly when supper was ended, He took the
cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant [ratihed
and established] in My blood. Do this, as often as you
drink [it], to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance.
26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this
cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming
the fact of the Lord’s death until He comes [again].
27 So then whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup
of the Lord in a way that is unworthy [of Him] will be
guilty of (profaning and sinning against) the body and
blood of the Lord.
28 Let a man [thoroughly] examine himself, and
[only] when he has done so should he eat of the bread
and drink of the cup.
29 For anyone who eats and drinks without dis-
criminating and recognizing with due appreciation that
[it is Christ’s] body, eats and drinks a sentence —a ver-
dict of judgment — upon himself,
30 That [careless and unworthy participation] is
the reason many of you are weak and sickly, and quite
enough of you are fallen into the sleep of death.
31 For if we searchingly examined ourselves — de-
tecting our shortcomings and recognizing our own con-
1 CORINTHIANS 12 637
dition — we should not be judged and penalty decreed
[ὃν the divine judgment].
32 But when we [fall short and] are judged by the
Lord, we are disciplined and chastened so that we may
not (finally) be condemned (to eternal punishment
along) with the world.
33 So then, my brothers, when you gather together
to eat [the Lord’s Supper], wait for one another.
34 If any one is hungry, let him eat at home, lest
you come together to bring judgment [on yourselves].
About the other matters, I will give you directions (per-
sonally)) when I come.
CHAPTER 12
OW about the spiritual gifts (the special endow-
ments of supernatural energy), brethren, I do not
want you to be misinformed.
2 You know that [when] you were heathen, you
were led off after idols that could not speak — habitually
—as impulse directed and whenever the occasion might
arise.
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one
speaking under the power and influence of the CHoly)
Spirit of God [ever] can say, Jesus be cursed! And no
one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by and
under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are distinctive varieties and distribu-
tions of endowments [*extraordinary powers distinguish-
ing certain Christians, due to the power of divine grace
operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit] and they
vary, but the CHolv) Spirit remains the same.
* Thayer.
638 1 CORINTHIANS 12
5 And there are distinctive varieties of service and
ministration, but it is the same Lord [Who is served].
6 And there are distinctive varieties of operation — of
working to accomplish things — but it is the same God
Who inspires and energizes them all in all.
7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the
CHoly) Spirit — that is, the evidence, the spiritual illumi-
nation of the Spirit — for good and profit.
8 To one is given in and through the (Holy) Spirit
[the power to speak] a message of wisdom, and to an-
other [the power to express] a word of knowledge and
understanding according to the same CHoly) Spirit;
9 To another (*wonder-working) faith by the same
CHoly) Spirit, to another the extraordinary powers of
healing by the one Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles, to another
prophetic insight — that is, ’the gift of interpreting the
divine will and purpose; to another the ability to discern
and distinguish between [the utterances of true] spirits
[and false ones], to another various kinds of [unknown]
tongues, to another the ability to interpret [such] tongues.
11 All these [achievements and abilities] are inspired
and brought to pass by one and the same (Holy) Spirit,
Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as
He chooses.
12 For just as the body is a unity and yet has many
parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one
body, so it is with Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One.
13 For by (‘means of the personal agency of) one
CHoly) Spirit we were all, whether Jews or Greeks,
*Vincent. bAbbott-Smith. cWuest's ‘‘Untranslatable Riches from
the Greek New Testarvent.”
1 CORINTHIANS 12 639
slaves or free, baptized [and “by baptism united to-
gether] into one body, and all made to drink of one
CHoly) Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one limb or
organ but of many.
15 If the foot should say, Because [ am not the hand,
I do not belong to the body, would it be therefore not
[a part] of the body?
16 If the ear should say, Because I am not the eye,
I do not belong to the body, would it be therefore not
[ἃ part] of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where [would be
the sense of] hearing? If the whole body were an ear,
where [would be the sense of] smell?
18 But as it is, God has placed and arranged the
limbs and organs in the body, each Cparticular one) of
them, just as He wished and saw fit and with the best
adaption.
19 But if [the whole] were all a single organ, where
would the body be?
20 And now there are [certainly] many limbs and
organs, but a single body.
21 And the cye is not able to say to the hand, I
have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I
have no need of you.
22 But instead, there is [absolute] necessity for the
parts of the body that are considered the more weak.
23 And those [parts] of the body which we consider
rather ignoble are [the very parts] which we invest with
additional honor; and our unseemly parts and those un-
IThayer.
640 1 CORINTHIANS 12
suitable for exposure are treated with seemliness (modes-
ty and decorum),
24 Which our more presentable parts do not require.
But God has so adjusted (mingled, harmonized and
subtly proportioned the parts of the whole) body, giving
the greater honor and richer endowment to the inferior
parts which lack [apparent importance],
25 So that there is no division or discord or lack of
adaption (of the parts of the body to each other), but
the members all] alike have a mutual interest in and care
for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the parts [share]
the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members
[share in] the enjoyment of it.
27 Now you (collectively) are Christ’s body and Cin-
dividually)) you are members of it, each part severally and
distinct — each with his own place and function.
28 So God has appointed some in the church (‘for
His own use): first apostles (special messengers); second
prophets Cinspired preachers and expounders); third
teachers, then wonder-workers, then those with ability
to heal the sick, helpers, administrators, [speakers in] dif-
ferent [unknown] tongues.
29 Are all apostles, (special messengers)? Are all
prophets — inspired interpreters of the will and purposes
of God? Are all teachers? Do all have the power of
performing miracles?
30 Do all possess extraordinary powers of healing?
Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the
¢Vincent.
1 CORINTHIANS 13 64]
greatest and best —the higher [gifts] and the choicest
[graces]. And yet I will show you a still more excellent
way — one that is better by far and the highest of them
all, [love].
CHAPTER 13
F I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of
angels, but have not love [that reasoning, intentional,
spiritual devotion such ®as is inspired by God’s love for
and in us], I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 And if I have prophetic powers — that is, "the gift
of interpreting the divine will and purpose; and under-
stand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all
knowledge, and if I have (sufhcient) faith so that I can
remove mountains, but have not love [God’s love in me]
I am nothing —a useless nobody.
3 Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in
providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned
[or in order that I may glory], but have not love [God’s
love in me], I gain nothing.
4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love
never is envious nor boils over with jealousy; is not boast-
ful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5 It is not conceited — arrogant and inflated with
pride; it is not rude Cunmannerly), and does not act un-
becomingly. Love [God’s love in us] does not insist on
its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it
is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of
the evil done to it— pays no attention to a suffered wrong.
*Souter. bAbbott-Smith. eSome ancient authorities so read.
642 1 CORINTHIANS 13
6. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness,
but rejoices when right avd truth prevail.
7 Love bears up under anything and everything that
comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person,
its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and it en-
dures everything [without weakening].
8 Love never fails — never fades out or becomes ob-
solete or comes to an end. As for prophecy [that is, the
gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose], it will
be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be
destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away
[that is, it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].
9 For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and
imperfect), and our prophecy Cour teaching) is fragmen-
tary (incomplete and imperfect).
10 But when the complete and perfect [total] comes,
the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away — become
antiquated, void and superseded.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I
thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that
I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and
have put them aside.
12 For now we are looking in a mirror that gives
only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as *in a riddle
or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall
see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part Cim-
perfectly); but then I shall know and understand ®fully
and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been
fully and clearly known and understood [*by God].
2Vincent’s “Word Studies in the New Testament.”
bAbbott-Smith’s ‘‘Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.”
*Matthew Henry and others.
1 CORINTHIANS 14 643
13 And so faith, hope, love abide; [faith, convic-
tion and belief respecting man’s relation to God and
divine things; hope, joyful and confident expectation of
eternal salvation; love, true affection for God and man,
growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three,
but the greatest of these is love.
CHAPTER 14
| Saeed pursue and seek to acquire [this] love —
make it your aim, your great quest; and earnestly
desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments, especially
that you may prophesy — that is, "interpret the divine will
and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching.
2 For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue
speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or
catches his meaning, because in the CHoly) Spirit he
utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the
understanding].
3 But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies —
who Pinterprets the divine will and purpose in inspired
preaching and teaching — speaks to men for their up-
building and constructive spiritual progress and encour-
agement and consolation.
4 He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and
improves himself, but he who prophesies — “interpreting
the divine will and purpose and teaching with inspira-
tion — edifies and improves the church and promotes
growth [in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness and happi-
ness |.
5» Now I wish that you might all speak in [unknown]
bAbbott-Smith.
644 1 CORINTHIANS 14
tongues, but more especially [I want you] to prophesy —
to be inspired to preach and interpret the divine will and
purpose. He who prophesies — who is inspired to preach
and teach — is greater (more useful and more important)
than he who speaks in [unknown] tongues, unless he
should interpret [what he says], so that the church may
be edihed and get good out of it.
6 Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in [un-
known] tongues, how shall I make it to your advantage
unless I speak to you either in revelation — disclosure of
God's will to man — in knowledge or in prophecy or in
instruction?
7 I£ even inanimate musical instruments, such as
the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will
anyone [listening] know or understand what is played?
8 And if the war bugle gives an uncertain (Cin-
distinct) call, who will prepare for battle?
9 Just so it is with you; if you in the [unknown]
tongue speak words that are not intelligible, how will
anyone understand what you are saying? For you will
be talking into empty space!
10 ‘There are, I suppose, all these many [to us un-
known] tongues in the world [somewhere], and none is
destitute of [its own power of] expression and meaning.
11 But if I do not know the force and significance of
the speech (language), I shall seem to be a foreigner to
the one who speaks [to me], and the speaker who ad-
dresses [me] will seem a foreigner to me.
12 So it is with yourselves; since you are so eager
and ambitious to possess spiritual endowments and mani-
festations of the CHoly) Spirit, [concentrate on] striving
1 CORINTHIANS 14 645
to excel and to abound [in them] in ways that will build
up the church.
13 Therefore, the person who speaks in an [un-
known] tongue should pray [for the power] to interpret
and explain what he says.
14 For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit
[by the "Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is
unproductive — bears no fruit and helps nobody.
15 Then what am 1 to do? I will pray with my
spirit — by the ™Holy Spirit that is within me; but I will
also pray intelligently — with my mind and understand-
ing; 1 will sing with my spirit — by the Holy Spirit that
is within me; but I will sing Cintelligently) with my
mind and understanding also.
16 Otherwise, if you bless and render thanks with
[your] spirit [*thoroughly aroused by the Holy Spirit],
how can any one in the position of an outsider, or “he
who is not gifted with [interpreting of unknown]
tongues, say the Amen to your thanksgiving, since he
does not know what you are saying? [1 Chron. 16:36;
Ps. 106:48.]
17 ‘To be sure, you may give thanks well (nobly),
but the bystander is not edified — it does him no good.
18 I thank God that I speak in [strange] languages
more than any of you or all of you put together;
19 Nevertheless, in public worship, I would rather
say five words with my understanding, and intelligently
in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in
a [strange] language.
20 Brethren, do not be children (immature) in your
mV incent. ® Thayer. bAlternate reading.
646 1 CORINTHIANS 14
thinking; continue to be babes in [matters of] evil, but
in your minds be mature [men].
21 It is written in the Law, By men of strange lan-
guages and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this
people, and not even then will they listen to Me, says
the Lord. [Is. 28:11, 12.]
22 Thus [unknown] tongues are meant for a (super-
natural) sign, not for believers but for unbelievers [on
the point of believing], while prophecy (inspired preach-
ing and teaching, interpreting the divine will and pur-
pose) is not for unbelievers [on the point of believing]
but for believers.
23 Therefore, if the whole church assembles and
all of you speak in [unknown] tongues, and the un-
gifted and uninitiated or unbelievers come in, will they
not say that you are demented?
24 But if all prophesy — giving inspired testimony
and interpreting the divine will and purpose — and an
unbeliever or untaught outsider comes in, he is told of
his sin and reproved and convicted and convinced by all,
and his defects and needs are examined (estimated, de-
termined), and he is called to account by all,
25 The secrets of his heart are laid bare; and so, fall-
ing on [his] face, he will worship God, declaring that
God is among you in very truth.
26 What then, brethren, is [the right course]? When
you meet together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a
disclosure of special knowledge or information, an ut-
terance in a [strange] tongue or an interpretation of it.
[But] let everything be constructive and edifying and
for the good of all.
1 CORINTHIANS 14 647
27 If some speak in a [strange] tongue, let the num-
ber be limited to two or at the most three, and cach one
{taking his] turn, and let one interpret and explain
[what is said].
28 But if there is no one to do the interpreting, let
each of them keep still in church and talk to himself and
to God.
29 So, let two or three prophets speak — those in-
spired to preach or teach — while the rest pay attention
and weigh and discern what is said.
30 But if an inspired revelation comes to another who
is sitting by, then let the first one be silent.
31 For in this way you can give testimony — pro-
phesving and thus interpreting the divine will and pur-
pose — one by one, so that all may be instructed and all
may be stimulated and encouraged;
32 For the spirits of the prophets [the speakers in
tongues] are under the speaker’s control [and subject
to being silenced as may be necessary],
33 For He [Who is the source of their prophesying]
is not a God uf confusion and disorder but of peace and
order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of the
saints CGod’s People),
34 The women should keep quiet in the churches,
for they are not authorized to speak, but should take a
secondary and subordinate place, just as the Law also says.
[Gen. 3:16.]
35 But if there is anything they want to learn, they
should ask their own husbands at home, for it is dis-
648 1 CORINTHIANS 15
graceful for a woman to talk in church [that is, *for her
to usurp and exercise authority over men in the church].
36 What! Did the Word of the Lord originate with
you [Corinthians], or has it reached only you?
37 If any one thinks and claims that he is a prophet
— filled with and governed by the Holy Spirit of God and
inspired to interpret the divine will and purpose in
preaching or teaching — or [to have any other] spiritual
endowment, Jet him understand Crecognize and ac-
knowledge) that what I am writing to you is a com-
mand of the Lord.
38 But if any one disregards or does not recognize
[*that it is a command of the Lord], he is disregarded
and not recognized — he is fone whom God knows not.
39 So [to conclude], my brethren, earnestly desire
and set your hearts on prophesying — on being inspired
to preach and teach and to interpret God's will and pur-
pose —and do not forbid or hinder speaking in [un-
known] tongues.
40 But all things should be done with regard to
decency and propriety and in an orderly fashion.
CHAPTER 15
ND now let me remind you [since it seems to have
Δ. escaped you], brethren, of the Gospel — the glad
tidings of salvation — which 1 proclaimed to you, which
you welcomed and accepted and upon which your faith
rests;
2 And by which you are saved, if you hold fast and
= “Expositor’s Greek Testament.”’ b Thayer.
¢Vincent, Some authorities read ‘‘he is not known.”
1 CORINTHIANS 15 649
keep firmly what I preached to you, unless you believed
at first without effect and all for nothing.
3 For I passed on to you first of all what I also had
received, that Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One,
died for our sins in accordance with [what] the Scrip-
tures [foretold], [Is.-53:5-12.]
4 That He was buried, that He arose on the third
day as the Scriptures foretold, [Ps. 16:9, 10.]
5 And [also] that He appeared to Cephas [Peter],
then to the twelve.
6 Then later He showed Himself to more than five
hundred brethren at one time, the majority of whom are
still alive, but some have fallen asleep [in death].
7 Afterward He was seen by James, then by all the
apostles (the special messengers),
8 And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one
prematurely and dead born [πο better than an unper-
fected fetus among living men].
9 For I am least [worthy] of the apostles, who am
not fit or deserving to be called an apostle, because I
once wronged and pursued and molested the church of
God — oppressing it with cruelty and violence.
10 But by the grace (the unmerited favor and bless-
ing) of God, I am what I am, and His grace toward me
was not [found to be] for nothing — fruitless and with-
out effect. In Fact, 1 worked harder than all of them [the
apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the
unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with
me.
11 So, whether then it was I or they, this is what we
4Vincent’s ‘‘Word Studies in the New Testament.”
650 1 CORINTHIANS 15
preach and this is what you believed — what you adhered
to, trusted in and relied on.
12 But now if Christ, the Messiah, is preached as
raised from the dead, how is it that some of you say that
there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then
Christ has not risen;
14 And if Christ has not risen, then our preaching
is in vain (amounts to nothing) and your faith is devoid
of truth and is fruitless — without effect, empty, imagin-
ary and unfounded.
15 We are even discovered to be misrepresenting
God, for we testified of Him that He raised Christ Whom
He did not raise, in case it is true that the dead are not
raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has
not been raised;
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is
mere delusion (futile, fruitless), and you are still in
your sins — that is, under the control and penalty of sin;
18 And further, those who have died in C'spiritual
fellowship and union with) Christ have perished — are
lost!
19 If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hope only
in this life and that is all, then we are of all people most
miserable and to be pitied.
20 But the fact is that Christ, the Messiah, has been
raised from the dead, and He became the first fruits of
those who have fallen asleep [in death].
21 For since [it was] through a man that death
Thayer.
1 CORINTHIANS 15 651
[came into the world, it is] also through a Man that the
resurrection of the dead [has come}.
22 For just as [because of ‘union of nature] in
Adam all people die, so also [by virtue of their union of
nature] shall all in Christ be made alive.
23 But each in his own rank and turn: Christ, the
Messiah, [is] the first Fruits, then those who are Christ's
[own will be resurrected] at His coming.
24 After that comes the end (the completion), when
He delivers over the kingdom to God the Father after
rendering inoperative and abolishing every [other] rule
and every authority and power.
25 For [Christ] must be King and reign until He has
put all [His] enemies under His feet. [Ps. 110:1.]
26 The last enemy to be subdued and abolished is
death.
27 For He [the Father] has put all things in sub
jection under His [Christ’s] feet. But when it says,
All things are put in subjection [under Him], it is evi-
dent that He [Himself] is excepted Who does the sub-
jecting of all things to Him. [Ps. 8:6.]
28 However, when everything is subjected to Him,
then the Son Himself will also subject Himself to [the
Father] Who put all things under Him, so that God may
be all in all — that is, be everything to everyone, supreme,
the indwelling and controlling factor of life.
29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being [them-
selves] baptized in behalf of the dead? If the dead are
not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?
30 [For that matter], why do I live [dangerously as
I do, running such risks that I am] in peril every hour?
4Jamieson, Fausset and Brown.
652 1 CORINTHIANS 15
31 [I assure you] by the pride which I have in you
in Cyour “fellowship and union with) Christ Jesus our
Lord, that I die daily — that is, that I face death every
day and die to self.
32 What do I gain if, merely from the human point
of view, I fought with [wild] beasts at Ephesus? If the
dead are not raised [at all], let us eat and drink, for to-
morrow we will be dead. [Is. 22:13.]
33 Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil com-
panionships, Ccommunion, associations) corrupt and de-
prave good manners avd morals and character.
34 Awake (*from your drunken stupor and return)
to sober sense avd your right minds, and sin no more.
For some of you have not the knowledge of God — you
are utterly and wilfully and disgracefully ignorant, and
continue to be so, lacking the sense of God's presence
and all true knowledge of Him. I say this to your shame.
35 But some one will say, How can the dead be
raised? With what [kind of] body will they come forth?
36 You foolish man! Every time you plant seed you
sow something that does not come to life (germinating,
springing up and growing) unless it dies first.
37 Nor is the seed you sow, then in the body which
it is going to have [later], but it is a naked kernel, per-
haps of wheat or some of the rest of the grains.
38 But God gives to it the body that He plans and
sees fit, and to each kind of seed a body of its own.
[Gen. 1:11.]
39 For all flesh is not the same, but there is one kind
for humans, another for beasts, another for birds, and
another for fish.
SThayer. bVincent.
1 CORINTHIANS 15 653
40 ‘There are heavenly bodies [sun, moon and stars]
and there are earthly bodies [of men, animals and
plants], but the beauty and glory of the heavenly bodies
is of one kind, while the beauty and glory of earthly
bodies is a different kind.
41 The sun is glorious in one way, and the moon
is glorious in another way, and the stars are glorious
in their own (distinctive) way; for one star differs from
and surpasses another in its beauty and brilliance.
42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead. [The
body] that is sown is perishable and decays, but [the
body] that is resurrected is imperishable — immune to
decay, immortal. [Dan. 12:3.]
43 It is sown in dishonor and humiliation; it is raised
in honor and glory. It is sown in infirmity and weak-
ness; it is resurrected in strength and endued with power.
44 It is sown a natural (physical) body; it is raised
a supernatural (a spiritual) body. [As surely as] there
is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.
45 Thus it is written, The frst man Adam became
a living being — an individual personality; the last Adam
(Christ) became a life-giving Spirit — restoring the dead
to life.
46 But [it is] not the spiritual life which came first,
but the physical and then the spiritual.
47 The first man [was] from out of earth, made of
dust — earth-minded; the second Man [is] the Lord from
out of heaven. [Gen. 2:7.]
48 Now those who are made of the dust are like
him who was first made of the dust — earth-minded; and
654 1. CORINTHIANS 15
as is [the Man] from heaven, so also [are those] who are
of heaven — heaven-minded.
49 And just as we have borne the image of the
[man] of dust, so shall we and so ‘let us also bear the
image of the [Man] of heaven.
50 But I tell you this, brethren, flesh and blood can-
not (become partakers of eternal salvation and) inherit
or share in the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable
—that which is decaying — inherit or share in the im-
perishable (the immortal).
51 Take notice! I tell you a mystery —a secret truth,
an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of
God. We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we
shall all be changed (transformed)
52 Ina moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
Csound of the) last trumpet call. For a trumpet will
sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperisha-
ble — free and immune from decay, and we shall be
changed (transformed).
53 For this perishable [part of us] must put on the
imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us] —
this nature that is capable of dying — must put on im-
mortality (freedom from death).
54 And when this perishable puts on the imperisha-
ble and this [that was] capable of dying puts on free-
dom from death, then shall be fulfilled the Scripture that
says, Death is swallowed up (utterly vanquished, ®for-
ever) in and unto victory. [Is. 25:8.]
55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where
is your sting? [Hos. 13:14.]
iMany ancient authorities read “‘let us.’
8Vincent’s “Word Studies in the New Tidaceak: bi
Ὶ CORINTHIANS 16 655
56 Now sin is the sting of death, and sin exercises
its power [upon the soul] through »{the abuse of] the
Law.
57 But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory —
making us conquerors — through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (stead-
fast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord —that is, always being superior Cexcclling, doing
more than enough) in the service of the Lord, knowing
and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord
is not futile — never wasted or to no purpose.
CHAPTER 16
OW concerning the money contributed for [the
rclief of] the saints (God’s people): you are to
do the same as I directed the churches of Galatia to do.
2 On the first [day] of each week, let everyone of you
Cpersonally) put aside something and save it up as he
has prospered — in proportion to what he is given — so
that no collections will need to be taken after I come.
3 And when I arrive, I will send on those whom you
approve and authorize with credentials to carry your
gift Cof charity) to Jerusalem.
4 If it seems worthwhile that I should go too, they
will accompany me.
5 After passing through Macedonia, 1 will visit you,
for I intend [only] to pass through Macedonia;
6 But it may be that I will stay with you [for a
while], perhaps even spend the winter, so that you may
bring me forward [on my journey] to wherever I may go.
bThayer.
656 1 CORINTHIANS 16
7 For I am unwilling to see you right now [just] in
passing, but I hope later to remain for some time with
you, if the Lord permits.
8 I will remain in Ephesus [however] until Pente-
cost,
9 For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [ser-
vice] has opened to me [there] — one great and promis-
ing — and many adversaries.
10 When Timothy arrives, look to it that [you put
him at ease, so that] he may be fearless among you, for
he is [devotedly] doing the Lord’s work, just as I am.
11 [So see to it that] no one despises him, or treats
him as if he were of no account or slights him. But send
him off (cordially, speed him on his way) in peace, for I
am expecting him [to come along] with the other
brethren. |
12 As for our brother Apollos, I have urgently en-
couraged him to visit you with the other brethren, but
it was not at all Chis will, or) *God’s will that he should
go now. He will come when he has opportunity.
13. Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your
faith [that is, in "your conviction respecting man’s rela-
tionship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and
holy fervor born of faith and a part of it]. Act like men
and be courageous; grow in strength! [Ps. 31:24.]
14 Let everything you do be done in love [true love
to God and man as inspired by God’s love for us].
15 Now, brethren, you know that the household of
Stephanas were the first converts and our first fruits in
Achaia [most of Greece], and how they have consecrated
«‘Flis’? may refer to Apollos, but probably means ‘“‘God’s.”
bThayer.
1 CORINTHIANS 16 657
and devoted themselves to the service of the saints (God's
people).
16 I urge you to pay all deference to such leaders and
to enlist under them and be subject to them, as well as
to every one who joins and co-operates [with you] and
labors earnestly.
17 1 am happy because Stephanas and Fortunatus
and Achaicus have come [to me], for they have made
up for your absence.
18 For they gave me ‘respite from labor and rested
me and refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Deeply
appreciate and thoroughly know and fully recognize such
men.
19 The churches of Asia send greetings and best
wishes. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church
[that meets] in their house, send you their hearty greet-
ings in the Lord.
20 All the brethren wish to be remembered to you
and wish you well. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 I, Paul, [add this final] greeting with my own
hand.
22 If any one does not love the Lord — does not have
a friendly affection for Him and is not kindly disposed
toward Him — he shall be accursed! Our Lord will come!
(Maranatha! )
23 The grace Cfavor and spiritual blessing) of our
Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
24 My love [that true love growing out of sincere
devotion to God] be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen
— so be it.
¢ Abbott-Smith,
THE SECOND LETTER OF PAUL
TO THE
CORINTHIANS
CHAPTER 1
AUL, an apostle (a special messenger) of Christ Jesus
by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, to
the church (assembly) of God which is at Corinth, and
to all the saints (the people of God) throughout Achaia
[most of Greece]:
2 Grace (favor and spiritual blessing) to you and
Cheart) peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus.
Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One.
3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercies) and |
the God [Who is the Source] of every consolation and
comfort and encouragement;
4 Who consoles and comforts and encourages us in
every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may
also be able to console (comfort and encourage) those °
who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the con-
solation Ccomfort and encouragement) with which we :
ourselves are consoled and comforted and encouraged by
God..
5 For just as Christ’s C‘own) sufferings fall to our :
lot *{as they overow upon His disciples, and we -
share and experience them] abundantly, so through
Christ comfort and consolation and encouragement are
also [shared and experienced] abundantly by us.
_—
6 But if we are troubled (afflicted and distressed), it :
is for your comfort Cconsolation and encouragement) and :
*Vincent’s ‘‘Word Studies in the New Testament.”’
658
2 CORINTHIANS 1 659
[for your] salvation; and if we are comforted (consoled
and encouraged), it is for your comfort and consolation
and encouragement, which work [in you when you]
patiently endure the same evils (misfortunes and calam-
ities) that we also suffer and undergo.
7 And our hope for you — that is, our joyful and con-
fident expectation of good for you — is ever unwavering,
Cassured and unshaken); for we know that just as you
share and are partners in [our] sufferings and calamities,
you also share and are partners in [our] comfort (con-
solation and encouragement).
8 For we do not want you to be uninformed, breth-
ren, about the affliction and oppressing distress which
befell us in [the province of] Asia, how we were so utter-
ly and unbearably weighed down and crushed that we
despaired even of life [itself].
9 Indeed, we felt within ourselves that we had
received the [very] sentence of death; but that was to
keep us from trusting and depending on ourselves instead
of on God Who raises the dead.
10 [For it is He] Who rescued and saved us from
such a perilous death, and He will still rescue and save
us; in and on [lim we have set our hope Cour joyful and
confident expectation) that He will again deliver us from
danger and destruction and "draw [us] to Himself,
11 While you also co-operate by your prayers for us
— helping and laboring together with us. Thus the lips
of many persons Godward turned will [eventually] give
thanks on our behalf for the grace (the blessing of de-
‘Primary meaning, ‘‘to draw to one’s self.’? (Thayer.)
660 2 CORINTHIANS 1
liverance) granted us at the request of the many who
have prayed.
12 It is a reason for pride and exultation to which
our conscience testifies, that we have conducted ourselves
in the world [generally] and more especially toward you,
with devout and pure motives and godly sincerity, not
in fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God —the un-
merited favor and merciful kindness [by which God
exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to
Christ, and keeps, strengthens and increases them in
Christian virtues].
13 For we write you nothing else but simply what
you can read and understand — that is, there is no double
meaning to what we say—and I hope that you will
become thoroughly acquainted [with *divine things] and
know and understand [them] accurately and well to the
end,
14 [Just] as you have (already) partially known and
understood and acknowledged us and recognized that you
can [honestly] be proud of us, even as we [can be
proud] of you on the day of our Lord Jesus.
15 It was with assurance of this that I wanted and
planned to visit you first [of all], so that you might have
a double favor and token of grace (good will).
16 [I wanted] to visit you on my way to Macedonia,
and [then] to come again to you [on my return trip]
from Macedonia and have you send me forward on my
way to Judea.
17 Now because I changed my original plan was I
being unstable and capricious? Or what I plan do I plan
»Thayer’s ‘‘Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament—Grimm.”’
2 CORINTHIANS 1 661
according to the flesh — like a worldly man — ready to say
Yes, yes, [when it may mean] No, no?
18 As surely as God is trustworthy and faithful and
means what He says, our speech and message to you have
not been Yes [that might mean] No.
19 For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, the Messiah,
Who has been preached among you by us, by myself,
Silvanus and Timothy, was not Yes and No; but in Him
it is [always the divine] Yes.
20 For as many as are the promises of God, they all
find their Yes Canswer) in Him (Christ). For this reason
we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him
— that is, in His Person and by His agency — to the glory
of God.
21 But it is God Who confirms and makes us stead-
fast and establishes us Cin joint fellowship) with you in
Christ, and has consecrated and anointed us — *enduing
us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
22 [He has also appropriated and acknowledged us as
His], putting His seal upon us and giving us His (Holy)
Spirit in our hearts as the security deposit and guarantee
fof the fulfillment of His promise].
23 But I call upon God as my soul’s witness, it was
to avoid hurting you that I refrained from coming to
Corinth;
24 Not that we have dominion [over you] and lord
it over your faith, but (rather that we work with you as)
fellow laborers [to promote] your joy, for in [your] faith
[that is, *in your strong and welcome conviction or be-
*Thayer. >bCf. Westcott on I John 2:20.
662 2 CORINTHIANS 2
lief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain
eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] you stand firm.
CHAPTER 2
UT I definitely made up my mind not to grieve you
B with another painful and distressing visit.
2 For if I cause you pain [with merited rebuke], who
is there to provide me enjoyment but the [very] one
whom I have grieved and made sad?
3 And I wrote the same to you so that when I came
I might not be myself pained by those who are the [very]
ones who ought to make me glad, for I trusted in you
all and felt confident that my joy would be shared by all
of you.
4 For I wrote you out of great sorrow and deep
distress (with mental torture and anxiety, of heart, [yes,
and] with many tears, not to cause you pain but in
order to make you realize the overflowing love that I
continue increasingly to have for you.
5 But if some one [the one among you who com-
mitted incest] has caused [all this] grief and pain, he has
caused it not to me, but in some measure, not to put it
too severely, [he has distressed] all of you.
6 For such a one this censure by the majority [which
he has received is] sufficient [punishment].
7 So [instead of further rebuke, now] you should
rather turn and (graciously) forgive and comfort and en-
courage [him], to keep him from being overwhelmed
by excessive sorrow and despair.
2 CORINTHIANS 2 663
8 I therefore beg you to reinstate him in your affec-
tions and assure him by your love for him;
9 For this is my purpose in writing you, to test your
attitude and see if you would stand the test, whether you
are obedient and altogether agreeable [to following my
orders] in everything.
10 If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive
that one; and what 1 have forgiven, if I have forgiven
anything, has been for your sakes in the presence [and
with the approval] of Christ, the Messiah,
11 To keep Satan from getting the advantage over
us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions.
12 Now when I arrived at Troas [to preach] the
good news (the Gospel.) of Christ, a door of opportunity
was opened for me in the Lord,
13 Yet my spirit could not rest Crelax, get relief)
because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I
took leave from them and departed for Macedonia.
14 But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always
leads us in triumph —as trophies of Christ’s victory —
and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance
of the knowledge of God everywhere,
15 For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which
exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who
are being saved and among those who are perishing;
16 To the latter it isan aroma [wafted] from death to
death —a fatal odor, the smell of doom; to the former it
is an aroma from life to life —a vital fragrance, living
and fresh. And who is qualified Cft and sufhcient) for
these things? — Who is able for such a ministry? [We?]
664 2 CORINTHIANS 3
17 For we are not, like so many (as hucksters, tavern
keepers, making a trade of) peddling God’s Word — short-
measuring and adulterating the divine message; but as.
[men] of sincerity and the purest motive, commissioned:
and sent by God, we speak [His message] in Christ, the
Messiah, in the [very] sight and presence of God.
CHAPTER 3
RE we starting to commend ourselves again? Or
we do not, as some [false teachers], need written
credentials or letters of recommendation to you or from
you, [do we]?
2 [No, you] yourselves are our letter of recommenda-
tion Cour credentials), written in ‘your hearts, to be Cper-
ceived, recognized,) known and read by everybody.
3 You show and make obvious that you are a letter
from Christ delivered by us, not written with ink but.
with [the] Spirit of [the] living God, not on tablets of
stone but on tablets of human hearts. [Ex. 24:12; 31:18;
32:15, 16; Jer. 31:33.]
4 Such is the reliance and confidence that we have
through Christ toward and with reference to God.
5 Not that we are fit Cqualifed and sufficient in
ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments or to
claim or count anything as coming from us; but our
power and ability and sufficiency are from God.
6 [It is He] Who has qualified us Cmaking us to be
fit and worthy and sufhcient) as ministers and dispensers
of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not
[ministers] of the letter — that is, of legally written code
©Many ancient authorities read ‘‘our.”’
2 CORINTHIANS 3 665
— but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but
the CHoly) Spirit makes alive. [Jer. 31:31.]
7 Now if (the ministration of the Law,) the dispen-
sation of death engraved in letters on stone, was inaugu-
rated with such glory and splendor that the Israelites
were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses
because of its brilliance, (a glory) that was to fade and
pass away, [Ex. 34:29-35.]
8 Why should not the dispensation of the Spirit [that
is, this spiritual "ministry whose task it is to cause men
to obtain and be governed by the Holy Spirit] be at-
tended with much greater and more splendid glory?
9 For if the service that condemns, (the ministration
of doom,) had glory, how infinitely more abounding in
splendor and glory must be the service that makes
tighteous—the ministry that produces and fosters
righteous living and right standing with God!
10 Indeed, in view of this fact, what once had splen-
dor [*the glory of the Law in the face of Moses] has
come to have no splendor at all, because of the over-
whelming glory that exceeds and excels it, [*the glory of
the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ].
11 For if that which was but passing and fading away
came with splendor, how much more must that abide
in glory and splendor which remains and is permanent!
12 Since we have such [glorious] hope — such [joy-
ful and confident] expectation — we speak very freely and
openly and fearlessly.
13. Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over
«Thayer. bVincent’s ‘‘Word Studies in the New Testament.”’
666 2 CORINTHIANS 4
his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the
finish of the vanishing [splendor which had been upon
it]. |
14 In fact, their minds were grown hard and cal-
loused — they had become dull and had lost the power
of understanding; for until this present day, when the
Old Testament [the old covenant] is being read, that
same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to
reveal] that in Christ it is made void and done away.
15 Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is.
read a veil lies upon their minds and hearts.
16 But whenever a person turns Cin repentance) to
the Lord the veil is stripped of and taken away.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit
of the Lord is, there is liberty — emancipation from bond-
age, freedom. [Is. 61:1, 2.]
18 And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we]
continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror
the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transhgured
into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and
from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes]
from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.
CHAPTER 4
HEREFORE, since we do hold and engage in this
ministry by the mercy of God [granting us favor,
benefits, opportunities and especially salvation], we do
not get discouraged — spiritless and despondent with fear,
or become faint with weariness and exhaustion.
2 We have renounced disgraceful ways — secret
thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, methods
2 CORINTHIANS 4 667
and arts that men hide through shame; we refuse to deal
craftily (to practise trickery and cunning) or to adulterate
or handle dishonestly the Word of God; but we state the
truth openly — clearly and candidly. And so we com-
mend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every
man’s conscience.
3 But even if our Gospel Cthe glad tidings) also be
hid — obscured and covered up with a veil [that hinders
the knowledge of God] — it is hid [only] to those who
are perishing, avd obscured [only] to those who are
spiritually dying, and veiled [only] to those who are lost.
4 For the god of this world has blinded the unbeliev-
ers’ minds Cthat they should not discern the truth),
preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of
the Gospel of the glory of Christ, the Messiah, Who is
the image and likeness of God.
5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus
Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants
(slaves) for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness,
has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light
for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and
glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is re-
vealed] in the face of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. [Gen.
1:3.]
7 However, we possess this precious treasure [the
divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of
earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the
power may be shown to be of God and not from ourselves.
8 We are hedged in (pressed) on every side —
troubled and oppressed in every way; but not cramped
668 2 CORINTHIANS 4
or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed
and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;
9 Weare (persecuted and hard driven, ) pursued, but
not deserted — to stand alone; we are struck down to the
ground, but never struck out and destroyed;
10 Always carrying about in the body the liability
and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord
Jesus suffered, so that the [‘resurrection-] life of Jesus
also may be shown forth by and in our bodies.
11 For we who live are constantly [experiencing]
being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the
[‘resurrection-] life of Jesus also may be evidenced
through our flesh which is liable to death.
12 Thus death is actively at work in us, but [it is
in order that “our] life [may be actively at work] in you.
13 Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had who
wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken. We
too believe, and therefore we speak. [Ps. 116:10.]
14 Assured that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus
will raise us up also with Jesus and bring us [along]
with you into His presence.
15 For all [these] things are [taking place] for your
sake, so that the more the grace (divine favor and spiritual
blessing) extends to more and more people and multiplies
through the many, the more the thanksgiving may in-
crease [and redound] to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not become discouraged — utterly
spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear.
Though our outer man is (progressively) decaying and
Vincent. 4Thayer.
2 CORINTHIANS 5 669
wasting away, yet our inner self is being Cprogressively)
renewed day after day.
17 For our light, momentary affliction Cthis slight
distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more
abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for
us an everlasting weight of glory — beyond all measure,
excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calcula-
tions, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never
to cease!
18 Since we consider and look not to the things
that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the
things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting),
but the things that are invisible are deathless and ever-
lasting.
CHAPTER 5
OR we know that if the tent which is our earthly
home is destroyed (dissolved), we have from God
a building, a house not made with hands, eternal in
the heavens.
2 Here indeed, in this (present abode, body), we
sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed
over — to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be
fitted out — with our heavenly dwelling;
3. So that by putting it on we may not be found
naked — without a body.
4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan under
the burden and sigh deeply — weighed down, depressed,
oppressed; not that we want to put off the body (the
clothing of the spirit), but rather that we would be fur-
670 2 CORINTHIANS 5
ther clothed, so that what is mortal Cour dying body.) may
be swallowed up by life [after the resurrection}.
5 Now He Who has fashioned us Cpreparing and
making us fit) for this very thing is God, Who also has
given us the CHoly) Spirit as a guarantee [of the fulfll-
ment of His promise}.
6 So then, we are always full of good and hopeful
and confident courage; we know that while we are at
home in the body we are abroad from the home with the
Lord [that is promised us].
7 For we walk by faith [that is, we "regulate our
lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief
respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things,
with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight
or appearance.
8 [Yes] we have confident and hopeful courage, and
are well-pleased rather to be away from home out of the
body and be at home with the Lord.
9 ‘Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away
from Him], or away from home [and with Him], we
are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be well-
pleasing to Him.
10 For we must all appear and be revealed as we
are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one
may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in
the body, whether good or evil, [considering "what his
purpose and motive have been, and what he has
"achieved, been busy with and given himself and his
attention to accomplishing].
11 Therefore, being conscious of fearing the Lord
*’Thayer. >Souter’s ‘‘Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament.”
2 CORINTHIANS 5 671
with respect and reverence, we seek to win people over —
to persuade them. But *what sort of persons we are is
plainly recognized and thoroughly understood by God,
and | hope that it is plainly recognized and thoroughly
understood also by your consciences — that is, by your
inborn discernment.
12 We are not commending ourselves to you again,
but we are providing you with an occasion and incentive
to be [rightfully] proud of us, so that you may have a
reply for those who pride themselves on surface appear-
ances — "on the virtues they only appear to have —al-
though their heart is devoid of them.
132 For if we are beside ourselves [mad, as some say],
it is for God and concerns Him; if we are in our right
mind, it is for your beneft,
14 For the love of Christ controls and urges and
impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction
that [if] One died for all, then all died;
15 And He died for all, so that all those who live
might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for
Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.
16 Consequently, from now on we estimate and re-
gard no one from a [purely] human point of view — in
terms of natural standards of value. [No] even though
we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint
and as a man, yet now [we have such knowledge of Him
that] we know Him no longer [in terms of the flesh].
17 ‘Therefore if any person is Cingrafted) in Christ,
the Messiah, he is Ca new creature altogether,) a new
creation; the old (previous moral and spiritual condition)
®Thayer.
672 2 CORINTHIANS 6
has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
18 But all things are from God, Who through Jesus
Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor,
brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us
the ministry of reconciliation — that by word and deed
we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him.
19 It was God (personally present) in Christ, recon-
ciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not
counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses
[but cancelling them]; and committing to us the mes-
sage of reconciliation — of the restoration to favor.
20 So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His
appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal
representatives} beg you for His sake to lay hold of the
divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God.
21 For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin
Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might
become [*endued with, viewed as in and examples of]
the righteousness of God — what we ought to be, ap-
proved and acceptable and in right relationship with
Him, by His goodness.
CHAPTER 6
S God’s fellow workers) laboring together with
( Him then, we beg of you not to receive the grace
of God in vain — that ‘merciful kindness by which God
exerts His holy influence on souls and turns them to
Christ, keeping and strengthening them, do not receive
it to no purpose.
2 For He says, In the time of favor (οἵ an assured
welcome) I have listened to and heeded your call, and I
bAlford. ¢Thayer.
2 CORINTHIANS 6 673
have helped you on the day of deliverance — the day of
salvation. Behold, now is truly the time for a gracious
welcome and acceptance [of you from God]; behold, now
is the day of salvation! [Is. 49:8.]
3 We (give no offense in anything,) put no obstruc-
tion in anybody’s way, so that no fault may be found and
[our] ministry blamed and discredited.
4 But we commend ourselves in every way as [true]
servants of God: through great endurance, in tribulation
and suffering, in hardships and privations, in sore straits
and calamities,
5 In beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless
watching, hunger;
6 By innocence and purity, knowledge and spiritual
insight, longsuffering and patience, kindness, in the Holy
Spirit, in unfeigned love;
7 By [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of
God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right
hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend];
8 Amid honor and dishonor, in defaming and evil
report and in praise and good report. [We are branded]
as deccivers Cimpostors), and [yet vindicated as] truthful
and honest.
9 [We are treated] as unknown and ignored [by the
world], and [yet we are] well-known and recognized [by
God and His people]; as dying, and yet here we are
alive; as chastened by suffering and [yet] not killed;
10 As grieved and mourning, yet [we are} always re-
Joicing; as poor [ourselves, yet] bestowing riches on
many; as having nothing, and [yet in reality] possessing
all things.
674 2 CORINTHIANS 6
11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians — we are
hiding nothing, keeping nothing back; and our heart is
expanded wide [for you]! [Ezek. 33:22; Is. 60:5.]
12 There is no lack of room for you in [our hearts],
but you lack room in your own affections [for us].
13 By way of return then, do this for me —I speak
as to children — open wide your hearts also [to us].
14 Do not be unequally yoked up with unbelievers —
do not make mismated alliances with them, or come under
a different yoke with them [inconsistent with your faith].
For what partnership have right living and right standing
with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can
light fellowship with darkness?
15 What harmony can there be between Christ and
Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common
with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement [can there be between] a temple
of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living
God; even as God said, J will dwell in and with and
among them and will walk in and with and among
them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My
people. [Ex. 25:8; 29:45; Lev. 26:12; Ezek. 37:27;
Jer. 31:1.]
17 So, come out from among Cunbelievers), and sepa-
rate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and
touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you
kindly and treat you with favor, [Is. 52:11.]
18 And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be
My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. [Hos.
1:10; Is. 43:6.]
2 CORINTHIANS 7 675
CHAPTER 7
HEREFORE, since these [great] promises are ours,
beloved, Jet us cleanse ourselves from everything
that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring
[our] consecration to completeness in the Creverential)
fear of God.
2 Do open your hearts to us again — enlarge them to
take us in. We have wronged no one; we have betrayed
or corrupted no one; we have cheated or taken advantage
of no one.
3 I do not say this to reproach or condemn [you], for
I have said before that you are (nested) in our hearts,
[and you will remain there] whether we die or live, it
will be together.
4 I have great boldness and free and fearless confi-
dence and cheerful courage toward you; my pride in you
is great; I am filled brimful with the comfort [of it].
With all our tribulation and in spite of it, | am filled
with comfort, 1 am overflowing with joy.
5 For even when we arrived in Macedonia, our
bodies had no ease or rest, but we were oppressed in
every way and afflicted at every turn — fighting and con-
tentions without, dread and fears within [us];
6 But God, Who comforts and encourages and re-
freshes and cheers the depressed and the sinking, com-
forted and encouraged and refreshed and cheered us by
the arrival of Titus.
7 [Yes] and not only by his coming but also by [his
account of] the comfort with which he was encouraged
and refreshed and cheered as to you, while he told us
of your yearning affection, of how sorry you were [for
676 2 CORINTHIANS 7
me] and how eagerly you took my part, so that I rejoiced
still more.
8 For even though I did grieve you with my letter,
I do not regret [it now], though I did regret it, for I see
that that letter did pain you, though only for a little
while;
9 Yet I am glad now, not because you were pained,
but because you were pained into repentance (that turn-
ed you to God); for you felt a grief such as God meant
you to feel, so that in nothing you might suffer loss
through us or harm for what we did.
10 For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to
direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes
to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never
brings regret; but worldly grief [the hopeless sorrow that
is characteristic of the pagan world] is deadly — breeding
and ending in death.
11 For [you can look back now and] observe what
this same godly sorrow has done for you and has pro-
duced in you: what eagerness and earnest care to explain
and clear yourselves [of all “complicity in the condoning
of incest], what indignation [at the sin], what alarm,
what yearning, what zeal [to do justice to all concerned],
what readiness to mete out punishment [το the offen-
der]! At every point you have proved yourselves cleared
and guiltless in the matter. [1 Cor. 5.]
12 So although I did write to you [as I did], it was
not for the sake and because of the one who did [the]
wrong, nor on account of the one who suffered [the]
wrong, but in order that you might realize before God
“Vincent.
2 CORINTHIANS 8 677
[that your readiness to accept our authority revealed]
how zealously you do care for us.
13 Therefore we are relieved and comforted and
encouraged [at the result]. And in addition to our own
Cpersonal.) consolation, we were especially delighted at
the joy of Titus, because you have all set his mind at
rest, soothing and refreshing his spirit.
14 For if I had boasted to him at all concerning you,
I was not disappointed or put to shame, but just as
everything we ever said to you was true, so our boasting
[about you] to Titus has proved true also.
15 And his heart goes out to you more abundantly
than ever as he recalls how submissive [to his guidance]
you all were, and the reverence and anxiety [to meet all
requirements] with which you accepted and welcomed
him.
16 Iam very happy because I now am of good cour-
age and have perfect confidence in you in all things.
CHAPTER 8
E want to tell you further, brethren, about the
W grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God
which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia
[arousing in them the desire to give alms];
2 For in the midst of an ordeal of severe tribulation,
their abundance of joy and their depth of poverty [to-
gether] have overflowed in a wealth of lavish generosity
on their part.
3 For, as I can bear witness, [they gave] according to
their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and [they did
it] voluntarily,
678 2 CORINTHIANS 8
4 Begging us most insistently for the favor and the
fellowship of contributing in this ministration for the
[relief and support of] the saints [in Jerusalem].
5 Nor [was this gift of theirs merely the contribution]
that we expected, but first they gave themselves to the
Lord and to us [as His agents] by the will of God —
that is, ‘entirely disregarding their personal interests, they
gave as much as they possibly could, having put them-
selves at our disposal to be directed by the will of God.
6 So much so that we have urged Titus that as he
began it, he should also complete this beneficent and gra-
cious contribution among you, [the church at Corinth].
7 Now as you abound and excel and are at the front
in everything, in faith, in expressing yourselves, in
knowledge, in all zeal, and in your love for us, [see to
it that you come to the front now and] abound and excel
in this gracious work [of almsgiving] also.
8 I give this not as an order — to dictate to you — but
to prove by [pointing out] the zeal of others the sincerity
of your [own] love also.
9 For you are coming progressively to be acquainted
with and to recognize more strongly and clearly the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ — His kindness, His gracious
generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing;
[in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes
He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty
you might become enriched — abundantly supplied.
10 [It is then] my counsel and my opinion in this
matter that I give [you, when I say], it is prohtable and
fitting for you [now to complete the enterprise], which
°Thayer.
2 CORINTHIANS 8 679
more than a year ago you not only began, but were the
first to wish [to do anything about contributions for the
relief of the saints at Jerusalem].
11 So now finish doing it, that your Centhusiastic)
readiness in desiring it may be equalled by your com-
pletion of it according to your ability and means.
12 For if the Ceager) readiness to give is there, then
it is acceptable axd welcomed in proportion to what a
person has, not according to what he does not have.
13 For it is not [intended] that other people be eased
and relieved Cof their responsibility) and you be bur-
dened and suffer Cunfairly),
14 But to have equality — share and share alike; your
surplus over necessity at the present time going to meet
their want and to equalize the difference created by it,
so that [at some other time] their surplus in turn may be
given to supply your want. Thus there may be equality.
15 As it is written, He who gathered much had
nothing over, and he who gathered little did not lack.
[Εχ. 16:18.]
16 But thanks be to God Who planted the same
earnest zeal and care for you in the heart of Titus.
17 For he not only welcomed and responded to our
appeal, but was himself so keen in his enthusiasm and
interest in you that he is going to you of his own accord.
18 But we are sending along with him that brother
[Luke?] whose praise in the Gospel ministry [is spread]
throughout all the churches;
19 And more than that, he has been appointed by
the churches to travel as our companion in regard to this
bountiful contribution which we are administering for
680 2 CORINTHIANS 9
the glory of the Lord Himself, and [to show] our eager
readiness [as Christians to help one another].
20 [For] we are on our guard, intending that no one
should find anything for which to blame us in regard
to our administration of this large contribution.
21 For we take thought beforehand and aim to be
honest and absolutely above suspicion not only in the
sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.
22 Moreover along with them we are sending our
brother, whom we have often put to the test and have
found him zealous (devoted and earnest) in many mat-
ters, but who is now more (eagerly) earnest than ever
because of [his] absolute confidence in you.
23 As for Titus, he is my colleague and shares my
work in your service; and as for the [other two] brethren,
they are the (special) messengers of the churches, a
credit and glory to Christ, the Messiah.
24 Show to these men, therefore, in the sight of the
churches, the reality and plain truth of your love — your
affection, goodwill and benevolence —and what [good
reasons] I had for boasting about and being proud of you.
CHAPTER 9
OW about the offering that is [to be made] for
the saints—God’s people [in Jerusalem] —it is
quite superfluous that I should write you;
2 For I am well acquainted with your willingness —
your readiness and your eagerness to promote it — and I
have proudly told about you to the people of Macedonia,
saying that Achaia [most of Greece] has been prepared
2 CORINTHIANS 9 681
since last year for this contribution; and [consequently]
your enthusiasm has stimulated the majority of them.
3 Still, I am sending the brethren [on to you], lest
eur pride in you should be made an empty boast in this
particular case, and so that you may be all ready, as I
told them you would be;
4 Lest, if [any] Macedonians should come with me
and find you unprepared [for this generosity], we, to say
nothing of yourselves, be humiliated for our being so
confident.
5 That is why I thought it necessary to urge these
brethren to go to you before I do, and make arrangements
in advance for this bountiful, promised gift of yours;
so that it may be ready, not as an extortion — wrung out
of you — but as a generous and willing gift.
6 [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and
grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and
he who sows generously and *that blessings may come to
someone, will also reap generously and with blessings.
7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own
mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrow-
fully or under compulsion, for God loves Cthat is, He
‘takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is un-
willing to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous,
prompt-to-do-it) giver — whose heart is in his giving.
[Prov. 22:9.]
8 And God is able to make all grace Cevery favor and
“earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you
may always and under all circumstances and whatever
the need, ®be self-sufficient — possessing enough to require
«Thayer. Vincent.
682 2 CORINTHIANS 9
no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every
good work and charitable donation.
9 As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scat-
ters abroad, he gives to the poor; his deeds of justice and
goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and
endure forever! [Ps. 112:9.]
10 And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and
bread for eating will also provide and multiply your
[resources for] sowing, and increase the fruits of your
righteousness [*which manifests itself in active good-
ness, kindness and charity]. [Is. 55:10; Hos. 10:12.]
11 Thus you will be enriched in al! things and in
every way, so that you can be generous, [and your gener-
osity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanks-
giving to God.
12 For the service the ministering of this fund ren-
ders does not only fully supply what is lacking to the
saints (God’s people), but it also overHows in many [cries
of] thanksgiving to God.
13 Because at [your] standing of the test of this
ministry, they will glorify God at your loyalty and obedi-
ence to the Gospel of Christ which you confess, as well
as for your generous-hearted liberality to them and to all
[the other needy ones].
14 And they yearn for you while they pray for
you, because of the surpassing measure of God's grace
CHis favor and mercy and spiritual blessing which is
shown forth) in you.
15 Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] be-
yond telling — His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift!
«Thayer. LbAlternate reading.
2 CORINTHIANS 10 683
CHAPTER 10
N° I myself, Paul, beseech you, by the gentle-
ness and consideration of Christ [Himself; 1] who
[am] lowly enough [so they say] when among you face
to face, but bold (fearless and outspoken to you when I
am.) absent from you!
2 I entreat you when I do come [to you] that 1 may
not [be driven to such] boldness as I intend to show to-
ward those few who suspect us of acting according to
the flesh — on the low level of worldly motives and as if
invested with only human powers.
3 For though we walk [live] in the flesh, we are not
carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using
mere human weapons.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical
Cweapons of flesh and blood), but they are mighty before
God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,
5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories
and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets
itself up against the (true) knowledge of God; and we
lead every thought and purpose away captive into the
obedience of Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One,
6 Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate
for his] disobedience, when your own submission and
obedience [as a church] are fully secured and complete.
7 Look at [this obvious fact] which is before your
eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him
reHlect and remind himself that even as he is Christ’s, so
too are we.
8 Tor even though I boast rather freely about our
power and authority, which the Lord gave for your
684 2 CORINTHIANS 10
upbuilding and not for demolishing you, yet I shall
not be put to shame [for exceeding the truth],
9 Neither would I seem to be over-awing or frighten-
ing you with my letters;
10 For they say, His letters are weighty and impres-
sive and forceful and telling, but his personality and
bodily presence are weak, and his speech and delivery are
utterly contemptible — of no account.
11 Let such people realize that what we say by
letters when we are absent, [we put] also into deeds when
we are present.
12 Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to
class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who
exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However,
when they measure themselves with themselves and
compare themselves with one another, they are without
understanding and behave unwisely.
13 We, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our
legitimate province and proper limit, but will keep within
the limits [of our commission which] God has alloted us
as our measuring line, and which reaches and includes
even you.
14 For we are not overstepping the limits of our
province and stretching beyond our ability to reach, as
though we Chad no legitimate mission to) you, for we
were [the very first] to come even as far as to you with
the good news (the Gospel.) of Christ.
15 We do not boast therefore beyond our proper limit,
over other men’s labors, but we have the hope and con-
fident expectation that as your faith continues to grow
2 CORINTHIANS IT 685
our field among you may be greatly enlarged, still within
the limits of our commission,
16 So that [we may even] preach the Gospel in lands
[lying] beyond you, without making a boast of work
already done in another [man’s] sphere of activity [be-
fore we came on the scene].
17 However, let him who boasts and glories, boast
and glory in the Lord. [Jer. 9:24.]
18 For [it is] not [the man] who praises and com-
mends himself who is approved and accepted, but [it is
the person] whom the Lord accredits and commends.
CHAPTER 11
WISH you would bear with me while I indulge
in a little [so-called] foolishness. Do bear with me!
2 For I am ‘zealous for you with a godly eagerness
and a divine jealousy, for I have betrothed you to one
Husband, to present you a chaste virgin to Christ.
{ Hos. 2:19, 20.]
3 But [now] I am fearful lest that even as the ser-
pent beguiled Eve by his cunning, so your minds may be
corrupted and seduced from wholehearted and sincere
and pure devotion to Christ. [Gen. 3:4.]
4 For [you seem readily to endure it] if a man comes
and preaches another Jesus than the One we preached,
or if you receive a different spirit from the [Spirit] you
[once] received, or a different gospel from the one you
[then] received and welcomed. You tolerate {all that}
well enough!
¢Abbortt-Smith, Thayer, Berry, etc.
686 2 CORINTHIANS 11
5 Yet I consider myself as in no way inferior to these
Cprecious) "extra-super [false] apostles.
6 But even if [I am] unskilled in speaking, yet [I
am] not [unskilled] in knowledge — I know what I am
talking about; we have made this evident to you in all
things.
7 But did I perhaps make a mistake and do you a
wrong in debasing and cheapening myself so that you
might be exalted and enriched in dignity and honor and
happiness, by preaching God’s Gospel without expense
to you?
8 Other churches I have robbed by accepting [more
than their share of] support for my ministry [from them
in order] to serve you.
9 And when I was with you and ran short financially,
I did not burden any fof you], for what I lacked was
abundantly made up by the brethren who came from
Macedonia. So I kept myself from being burdensome to
you in any way, and wil} continue to keep [myself from
being so].
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this my boast
[of independence] shall not be debarred (silenced or
checked) in the regions of Achaia [most of Greece].
11 And why? Because I do not love you — do not
have a preference for you, wish you well and regard
your welfare? God perceives and knows that I do!
12 But what I do I will continue to do, [for I am
determined to maintain this independence] in order to
cut off the claim of those who would like [to find an
®Farrar’s ‘‘Life and Work of Saint Paul.”
2 CORINTHIANS 11 687
occasion and incentive] to claim that in their boasted
[mission] they work on the same terms that we do.
13 For such men are false apostles — spurious, coun-
terfeits — deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles
(special messengers) of Christ, the Messiah.
14 And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquer-
ades as an angel of light,
15 So it is not surprising if his servants also mas-
querade as ministers of righteousness. [But] their end
will correspond with their deeds.
16 [ repeat then, let no one think I have lost my wits;
but even if you do, then bear with a witless man, so
that I too may boast a little.
17 What I say by way of this confident boasting, I
say not with the Lord’s authority Cby inspiration) but as
it were in pure witlessness.
18 [For], since many boast of worldly things and
according to the flesh, I will glory Cboast) also.
19 For you readily and gladly bear with the foolish,
since you are so smart and wise yourselves!
20 For vou endure it if a man assumes control of
your souls ancl makes slaves of you, or devours Cyour
substance, spends your money) and preys upon you, or
deceives and takes advantage of you, or is arrogant and
puts on airs, or strikes you in the face.
21 ‘To mv discredit, 1 must say, we have shown our-
selves too weak [for you to show such tolerance of us; for
us to do strong, courageous things like that to you]! But
in whatever any person is bold and dares [to boast], mind
I am speaking in this foolish Cwitless) way, I also am
bold and dare [to boast].
688 2 CORINTHIANS 11
22 They are Hebrews? So am I! They are Israelites?
So am I! They are descendants of Abraham? So am I!
23 Are they (ministering) servants of Christ, the
Messiah? I am talking like one beside himself, [but] I
am more, with far more extensive and abundant labors,
with far more imprisonments, [beaten] with countless
stripes, and frequently [at the point of] death.
24 Five times I received from [the hands of] the Jews
forty [lashes all] but one; [Deut. 25:3.]
25 Three times I have been beaten with rods; once
I was stoned. Three times I have been aboard a ship
wrecked at sea; a [whole] night and a day I have spent
Cadrift) on the deep;
26 Many times on journeys, [exposed to] perils from
rivers, perils from bandits, perils from [my own] nation,
perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the
desert places, perils in the sea, perils from those posing as
believers — but destitute of Christian knowledge and
piety;
27 In toil and hardship, watching often (through
sleepless nights), in hunger and thirst, frequently driven
to fasting by want, in cold and exposure and lack of
clothing.
28 And besides those things that are without, there
is the daily, [inescapable pressure] of my care and anxiety
for all the churches!
29 Who is weak, and I do not feel [his] weakness?
Who is made to stumble and fall and have his faith hurt,
and I am not on fire [with sorrow or indignation]?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that
2 CORINTHIANS 12 689
[show] my infirmity — of the things by which I am made
weak and contemptible [in the eyes of my opponents].
31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ
knows, He Who is blessed and to be praised forevermore,
that I do not lie.
32 In Damascus, the city governor acting under King
Aretas guarded the city of Damascus [on purpose] to
arrest me,
33 And I was [actually] let down in a Crope) basket
or hamper, through a window [a small door] in the wall,
and I escaped through his fingers.
CHAPTER 12
RUE, there is nothing to be gained by it, but [as I
am obliged] to boast I will go on to visions and
revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago,
whether in the body or out of the body I do not know,
God knows, was caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I know that this man was caught up into
Paradise, whether in the body or away from the body
I do not know, God knows.
4 And he heard utterances beyond the power of man
to put into words, which man is not permitted to utter.
5 Of this same [man’s experiences] I will boast, but
of myself Cpersonally) I will not boast, except as regards
my infirmities — my weaknesses.
6 Should I desire to boast, I shall not be a witless
braggart, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I ab-
stain [from it] so that no one may form a higher estimate
690 2 CORINTHIANS 12
of me than [is justified by] what he sees in me or hears
from me.
7 And to keep me from being puffed up and too
much elated by the exceeding greatness (pre-eminence)
of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splin-
ter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet
and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted.
[Job. 2:6.]
8 Three times I called upon the Lord and besought
[Him] about this and begged that it might depart from
me;
9 But He said to me, My grace — My favor and lov-
ing-kindness and mercy — are enough for you, [that is,
sufhcient against any danger and to enable you to bear
the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are
made perfect — fulfilled and completed and show them-
selves most effective —in [your] weakness. ‘Therefore,
I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and in-
firmities, that the strength and power of Christ, the
Messiah, may rest — yes, may ‘pitch a tent [over] and
dwell — upon me!
10 So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and
take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecu-
tions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak (‘in
human strength), then am I [truly] strong — able, power-
ful ¢in divine strength.
11 Now I have been [speaking like] a fool! But you
forced me to it, for I ought to have been [‘saved the
necessity and] commended by you. For I have not fallen
*Moulton and Milligan’s ‘“‘The Vocabulary of the perce Testament.”’
bTwo Greek texts so read. ¢Vincent. yer.
2 CORINTHIANS 12 691
short one bit or proved myself at all inferior to those
superlative [false] apostles [of yours}, even if I am noth-
ing — a nobody.
12 Indeed, the signs that indicate [a genuine] apostle
were performed among you fully and most patiently in
miracles and wonders and mighty works.
13 For in what respect were you put to a disadvan-
tage in comparison with the rest of the churches, unless
[it was for the fact] that I myself did not burden you
[with my financial support]? Pardon me [for doing you]
this injustice!
14 Now for the third time I am ready to come to
[visit] you. And I will not burden you [financially], for
it is not yours that I want but you; for children are not
duty bound to lay up store for their parents, but parents
for their children.
15 But I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent
[myself] for your souls. If I love you exceedingly, am I
to be loved [by you] the less?
16 But though granting that I did not burden you
[with my support, some say] I was crafty, and that I
cheated and got the better of you with my trickery.
17 Did I [then] take advantage of you or make any
money out of you through any of those [messengers]
whom I sent to you?
18 [Actually] I urged Titus [to go], and I sent the
brother with [him]. Did Titus overreach or take advan-
tage of you [in anything]? Did he and I not act in the
same spirit? Did we not [take the] same steps?
19 Have you been supposing [all this time] that we
have been defending ourselves and apologizing to you?
692 2 CORINTHIANS 13
{It is] in the sight and the [very] presence of God [and
as one] in Christ, the Messiah, that we have been speak-
ing, dearly beloved, and all in order to build you up
[spiritually].
20 For I am fearful lest somehow or other I may
come and find you not what I desire to find you, and
that you may find me too not what you want to find me;
lest perhaps there may be factions (quarreling), jealousy,
temper Cwrath, intrigues, rivalry, divided loyalties), sel-
fishness, whispering, gossip, arrogance (self-assertion) and
disorder among you.
21 [I am fearful] that when I come again my God
may humiliate and humble me in your regard, and that
I may have to sorrow over many of those who sinned
before and have not repented of the impurity, sexual
vice and sensuality which they formerly practised.
CHAPTER 13
HIS is the third time that I am coming to you. By
the testimony of two or three witnesses must any
charge and every accusing statement be sustained and
conhrmed. [Deut. 19:15.]
2 I have already warned those who sinned formerly
and all the rest also, and I warn them now again while
I am absent, as I did when present on my second visit,
that if I come back I will not spare [them],
3 Since you desire and seek (perceptible) proof of
the Christ Who speaks in and through me. [For He] is
not weak and feeble in dealing with you, but is a mighty
power within you;
4 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He
2 CORINTHIANS 13 693
goes on living by the power of God. And though we
too are weak in Him [as He was humanly weak], yet in
dealing with you [we shall show ourselves] alive and
strong in (fellowship with) Him by the power of God.
5 Examine and test and evaluate your own selves,
to see whether you are holding to your faith and show-
ing the proper fruits of it. “Test and prove yourselves,
[πος Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know
(thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience) that Jesus
Christ is in you? unless you are [counterfeits] disap-
proved on trial and rejected!
6 But I hope you will recognize and know that we
are not disapproved on trial and rejected.
7 But I pray to God that you may do nothing wrong,
not in order that we [*our teaching] may appear to be
approved, but that you may continue doing right,
[though] we may seem to have failed and be unapproved.
8 For we can do nothing against the Truth [not
serve any party or personal interest], but only for the
Truth [‘which is the Gospel].
9 For we are glad when we are weak (*unapproved )
and you are really strong. And this we also pray for,
your all round strengthening and perfecting of soul.
10 So I write these things while 1 am absent from
you, that when I come to you J may not have to deal
sharply in my use of the authority which the Lord has
given me, [to be employed, however] for building [you]
up and not for tearing [you] down.
11 Finally, brethren, farewell — rejoice! Be strength-
@Vincent. bGray and Adams’ Commentary. ¢ Thayer.
694 2 CORINTHIANS 13
ened — perfected, completed, made what you ought to
be; be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the
same (agreeable) mind one with another; live in peace,
and [then] the God of love [Who is the Source] — of
affection, goodwill, love and benevolence toward men —
and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you.
12 Greet one another with a consecrated kiss.
13. All the saints (the people of God here) salute you.
14 The grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of the
Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the presence
and fellowship (the communion and sharing together,
dand participation) in the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen — so be it.
4Alternate reading.
THE LETTER OF PAUL
TO THE
GALATIANS
CHAPTER 1
ps an apostle — special messenger appointed and
commissioned and sent out — not from [any body
of] men nor by or through #any man, but by and through
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and God the Father Who
raised Him from among the dead;
2 And all the brethren who are with me, to the
churches of Galatia:
3 Grace and spiritual blessing be to you and soul
peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Messiah,
4 Who gave (yielded) Himself up [to atone] for
our sins (and "ἴο save and sanctify us), in order to rescue
and deliver us from this present wicked age and world
order, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan
of our God and Father.
5 To Him [be ascribed all] the glory through all the
ages of the ages and the eternities of the eternities! Amen
— so be it.
6 I am surprised and astonished that you are so
quickly "turning renegade and deserting Him Who in-
vited and called you *by the grace Cunmerited favor)
of Christ, the Messiah, [and that you are transferring
your allegiance] to a different, even an opposition gospel.
7 Not that there is [or could be] any other [genuine
Gospel], but there are [obviously] some who are
troubling and disturbing and bewildering you (*with a
8Vincent. Lightfoot.
695
696 GALATIANS 1
different kind of teaching which they offer as a gospel)
and want to pervert and distort the Gospel of Christ, the
Messiah [into something which it absolutely is not].
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should
preach to you a gospel contrary to and different from
that which we preached to you, let him be accursed —
anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal
punishment!
9 As we said before, so I now say again, If anyone
is preaching to you a gospel different from or contrary
to that which you received [from us], let him be ac-
cursed — anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to
eternal punishment!
10 Now, am I trying to win the favor of men, or of
God? Do I seek to be a man-pleaser? If I were still
seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond-
servant of Christ, the Messiah.
11 For I want you to know, brethren, that the
Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me
is not man’s gospel —a human invention, according to
or patterned after any human standard.
12 For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor
was I taught it; [it came to me] through a [direct]
revelation [given] by Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
13 You have heard of my earlier career and former
manner of life in the Jewish religion (Judaism), how
I persecuted and abused the church of God furiously
and extensively, and [with fanatical zeal did my best]
to make havoc of it and destroy it.
14 And [have heard how] I outstripped many of
the men of my own generation among the people of my
GALATIANS 1 697
race, in [my advancement in study and observance of
the laws of] Judaism, so extremely enthusiastic and
zealous I was for the traditions of my ancestors.
15 But when He Who had chosen and set me apart
[even] before I was born, and had called me by His
grace (His undeserved favor and blessing), [Is. 49:1;
Jer. 1:5.]
16 Saw fit and was pleased to reveal Cunveil, disclose)
His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among
the Gentiles [the non-Jewish world] as the glad tidings,
immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood — did
not consult or counsel with any frail human being or
communicate with anyone.
17 Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who
were apostles — special messengers of Christ — before I
was; but I went away and retired into Arabia, and
afterward I came back again to Damascus.
18 ‘Then three years later, I did go up to Jerusalem
to become (personally) acquainted with Cephas (Peter),
and remained with him for fifteen days.
19 But I did not see any of the other apostles — the
special messengers of Christ — except James the brother
of our Lord.
20 Now -— [note carefully] what I am telling you,
[for] it is the truth; I write it as if I were standing before
the bar of God; I do not lie.
21 ‘Then I went into the districts (countries, regions)
of Syria and Cilicia.
22 And so far I was still unknown by sight to the
churches of Christ in Judea [the country surrounding
Jerusalem].
698 GALATIANS 2
23 They were only hearing it said, He who used to
persecute us is now proclaiming the very faith he once
reviled and which he set out to ruin and tried [with all
his might] to destroy.
24 And they glorified God [as the Author and Source
of what had taken place] in me.
CHAPTER 2
HEN after Can interval) of fourteen years I again
went up to Jerusalem. [This time I went] with
Barnabas, taking Titus along with [me] also.
2 I went because it was specially and divinely re-
vealed to me that I should go, and | put before them the
Gospel, [declaring to them that] which I preach among
the Gentiles. However, [I presented the matter] private-
ly before those of repute, [for I wanted to make certain,
by thus at first confining my communication to this private
conference] that I was not running or had not run in
vain — guarding against being discredited either in what
I was planning to do or had already done.
3 But [all went well]; even Titus, who was with
me, was not compelled [as some had anticipated] to be
circumcised, although he was a Greek.
4 [My precaution was] because of [some men who
were Christians in name only], false brethren who had
been secretly smuggled in [to the Christian brother-
hood]; they had slipped in to spy on our liberty and the
freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might
again bring us into bondage [under the Law of Moses].
5 ‘To them we did not yield submission even for a
GALATIANS 2 699
moment, that the truth of the Gospel might continue to
be [preserved] for you [in its purity].
6 Moreover, [no new requirements were made] by
those who were reputed to be something, though what
was their individual position and whether they really
were of importance or not makes no difference to me;
God is not impressed with the positions that men hold
and He is not partial and recognizes no external distinc-
tions. Those [I say] who were of repute imposed no
new requirements upon me — had nothing to add to my
Gospel and from them I received no new suggestions.
[Deut. 10:17.]
7 But on the contrary, when they [really] saw that I
had been entrusted [to carry] the Gospel to the uncir-
cumcised [Gentiles, just as definitely] as Peter had been
entrusted [to proclaim] the Gospel to the circumcised
[Jews, they were agreeable];
8 For He Who motivated and fitted Peter and worked
effectively through him for the mission to the circum-
cised, motivated and fitted me and worked through me
also for [the mission to] the Gentiles.
9 And when they knew (perceived, recognized, un-
derstood and acknowledged) the grace CGod’s unmerited
favor and spiritual blessing) that had been bestowed
upon me, James and Cephas (Peter) and John, who
were reputed to be pillars of the Jerusalem church,
gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship,
with the understanding that we should go to the Gen-
tiles and they to the circumcised (Jews).
10 They only [made one stipulation], that we were
700 GALATIANS 2
to remember the poor, which very thing I was also eager
to do.
11 But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch 1 pro-
tested and opposed him to his face [concerning his con-
duct there], for he was blameable and stood condemned.
12 For up to the time that certain persons came from
James, he ate his meals with the Gentile [converts]; but
when the men [from Jerusalem] arrived he withdrew and
held himself aloof from the Gentiles and [ate] separately
for fear of those of the circumcision [party].
13 And the rest of the Jews along with him also
concealed their true convictions and acted insincerely,
with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by
their hypocrisy — that is, by their example of insincerity
and pretense.
14 But as soon as I saw that they were not straight-
forward and were not living up to the truth of the Gos-
pel, I said to Cephas (Peter) before everybody present,
If you, though born a Jew, can live [as you have been
living] like a Gentile and not as a Jew, how do you dare
now to urge and practically force the Gentiles to [comply
with the ritual of Judaism and] live like Jews?
15 [I went on to say], Although we ourselves — you
and I —are Jews by birth and not Gentile (heathen)
sinners,
16 Yet we know that a man is justified or reckoned
righteous and in right standing with God, not by works
of law but [only] through faith and [absolute] reliance
on and adherence to and trust in Jesus Christ, the Mes-
siah, the Anointed One. [Therefore] even we [our-
selves] have believed on Christ Jesus, in order to be
GALATIANS 2 701
justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law
— for we cannot be justified by any observance of [the
ritual of] the Law [given by Moses]; because by keeping
legal rituals azd by works no human being can ever be
justified — declared righteous and put in right standing
with God. [Ps. 143:2.]
17 But if, in our desire and endeavor to be justified
in Christ —to be declared righteous and put in right
standing with God wholly and solely through Christ —
we have shown ourselves sinners also and convicted of
sin, does that make Christ a minister (a party and con-
tributor) to our sin? Banish the thought! — Of course
not!
18 For if I [or any other] — who have taught that
the observance of the Law of Moses is not essential to
being justified by God, should now by word or practice
teach or intimate that it is essential — building up again
what I tore down, I prove myself a transgressur.
19 For I through the Law — under the operation [of
the curse] of the Law — have [in Christ’s death for me]
myself died to the Law and all the Law’s demands upon
me, so that I may [henceforth] live to and for God.
20 I have been crucified with Christ — [in Him] I
have shared His crucifixion; it is no longer | who live,
but Christ, the Messiah, lives in me; and the life 1 now
live in the body I live by faith — by adherence to and
reliance on and [complete] trust —in the Son of God,
Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
21 [Therefore, 1 do not treat God’s gracious gift as
something of minor importance and defeat its very pur-
pose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and
702 GALATIANS 3
nullify the grace Cunmerited favor) of God. For if jus-
tification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes
through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ,
the Messiah, died groundlessly and to no purpose and in
vain. — His death was then wholly superfluous.
CHAPTER 3
O YOU poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflect-
ing and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated
or bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto whom — right
before your very eyes — Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was
openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as cru-
cifed?
2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you re-
ceive the CHoly) Spirit as the result of obeying the
Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the mes-
sage of the Gospel] and believing [it]? — Was it from
observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?
3 Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly?
Having begun fyour new life spiritually] with the
CHoly) Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by de-
pendence] on the flesh?
4 Have you suffered so many things and experienced
so much all for nothing — to no purpose? if it really is to
no purpose and in vain,
5 Then does He Who supplies you with His mar-
velous (Holy) Spirit, and works powerfully and miracu-
lously among you, [do so on the grounds of your doing]
what the Law demands, or because of your believing and
adhering to and trusting in and relying on the message
that you heard?
GALATIANS 3 703
6 Thus Abraham believed and adhered to and trusted
in and relied on God, and it was reckoned and placed to
his account and accredited as righteousness --- as con-
formity to the divine will in purpose, thought and action.
(Gen. 15:6.]
7 Know and understand that it is [really] the people
[who live] by faith who are [the true] sons of Abraham.
8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would jus-
tify — declare righteous, put in right standing with Him-
self — the Gentiles in consequence of faith, proclaimed
the Gospel [foretelling the glad tidings of a Savior long
beforehand] to Abraham in the promise, saying, In you
shall all the nations [of the earth] be blessed. [Gen.
12:3.]
9 So then, those who are people of faith are blessed
and made happy and favored by God [as partners in fel-
lowship] with the believing and trusting Abraham.
10 And all who depend on the Law — who are seek-
ing to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals —
are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and
destruction; for it is written in the Scriptures, Cursed
Caccursed, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal
punishment) be everyone who does not continue to
abide (live and remain) by all the precepts and com-
mands written in the book of the Law, and practise
them. [Deut. 27:26.]
11 Now it is evident that no person is justified — de-
clared righteous and brought into right standing with
God — through the Law; for the Scripture says, The man
in right standing with God Cthe just, the righteous) shall
704 GALATIANS 3
live by and out of faith, and *he who through and by
faith is declared righteous and in right standing with
God shall live. [Hab. 2:4.]
12 But the Law does not rest on faith — does not re-
quire faith, has nothing to do with faith — for it itself
says, He who does them (the things prescribed by the
Law) shall live by them, [not by faith]. [Lev. 18:5.]
13 Christ purchased our freedom (redeeming us)
from the curse (doom) of the Law’s (condemnation),
by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written
[in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a
tree Cis crucified); [Deut. 21:23.]
14 To the end that through [their receiving] Christ
Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come
upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all]
receive [the realization of] the promise of the CHoly)
Spirit.
15 To speak in terms of human relations, brethren,
[if] even a man makes a last will and testament [a mere-
ly human covenant], no one sets it aside or makes it void
or adds to it, when once it has been drawn up and signed
(ratified, confirmed).
16 Now the promises (covenants, agreements.) were
decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed Chis Off-
spring, his Heir). He (God) does not say, And to seeds
(descendants, heirs), as if referring to many persons; but,
And to your Seed (your Descendant, your Heir), obvi-
ously referring to one individual, Who is [none other
than] Christ, the Messiah. [Gen. 13:15; 17:8.]
17 This is my argument: The Law, which began four
* Alternate reading.
GALATIANS 3 705
hundred and thirty years after the covenant [concern-
ing the coming Messiah], does not avd can not annul
the covenant previously established Cratifed) by God,
so as to abolish the promise and make it void. [Ex.
12:40.]
18 For if the inheritance [of the promise depends on
observing] the Law [as these false teachers would like
you to believe], it no longer [depends] on the promise;
however, God gave it to Abraham [as a free gift solely]
by virtue of His promise.
19 What then was the purpose of the Law? It was
added — later on, after the promise, to disclose and ex-
pose to men their guilt — because of transgressions and
[to make men more conscious of the sinfulness] of sin;
and it was intended to be in effect until the Seed Cthe
Descendant, the Heir) should come, to and concerning
Whem the promise had been made. And it (the Law)
was arranged and ordained and appointed through the
instrumentality of angels [and was given] by the hand
Cin the person) of a go-between — an intermediary per-
son (Moses) between God and man.
20 Now a go-between (intermediary) has to do
with and implies more than one paily — there can be no
mediator with just one person. Yet God is [only] one
person — and He was the sole party [in giving that
promise to Abraham. But the Law was a contract be-
tween two, God and Israel; its validity was dependent
on both].
21 Is the Law then contrary and opposed to the
promises of God? Of course not! For if a Law had
been given which could confer [spiritual] life, then
706 GALATIANS 3
righteousness and right standing with God would cer-
tainly have come by Law.
22 But the Scripture [pictures all mankind as sin-
ners] shut up and imprisoned by sin, so that [the inheri-
tance, blessing] which was promised through faith in
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, might be given Creleased, de-
livered and committed) to [all] those who believe — who
adhere to and trust in and rely on Him.
23 Now before the faith came we were perpetually.
guarded under the Law, kept in custody in preparation:
for the faith that was destined to be revealed Cunveiled,
disclosed).
24 So that the Law served *[to us Jews] as our
trainer — our guardian, our guide to Christ, to lead us.
— >until Christ [came], that we might be justified Cde-
clared righteous, put in right standing with God) by and
through faith.
25 But now that the faith has come, we are no
longer under a trainer — the guardian of our childhood.
26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God
through faith.
27 For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ
— into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the
Anointed One, the Messiah — have put on (clothed your-
selves with) Christ.
28 There is [now no distinction], neither Jew nor
Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male
‘and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you belong to Christ Care in Him, Who is
Abraham’s Seed), then you are Abraham's offspring and
(spiritual) heirs according to promise.
‘Vincent. bAlternate reading. cLiteral translation.
GALATIANS 4 707
CHAPTER 4
OW what I mean is that as long as the inheritor
Cheir) is a child and under age, he does not differ
from a slave, although he is the master of all the estate;
2 But he is under guardians and administrators or
trustees until the date fixed by his father.
3 So we [Jewish Christians] also, when we were
minors were kept like slaves under (the rules of the
Hebrew ritual and subject to) the elementary teachings
of a system of external observations and regulations.
4 But when the proper time had fully come, God sent
His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regula-
tions of] the Law,
5 To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem,
to Patone for) those who were subject to the Law,
that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred
upon us — be recognized as [God’s] sons.
6 And because you [really] are CHis.) sons, God has
sent the (SHoly) Spirit of His Son into our hearts, cry-
ing, Abba (Father)! Father!
7 Therefore, you are no longer a slave Cbond servant)
but a son; and if a son, then [it follows that you are] an
heir “by the aid of God, through Christ.
8 But at that previous time, when you had not come
to be acquainted with and understand and know the true
God, you [Gentiles] were in bondage to gods that by
their very nature could not be gods at all — gods that
really did not exist.
9 Now however that you have come to be acquainted
with and understand and know [the true] God, or rather
bWebster, defning ‘‘redeem.” ¢Vincent. 4Thayer.
708 GALATIANS 4
to be understood and known by God, how can you tum
back again to the weak and beggarly and worthless ele-
mentary things [of all religions before Christ came]
whose slaves you once more want to become?
10 You observe [particular] days, and months, and:
seasons and years!
11 I am alarmed [about you] lest I have labored
among and over you to no purpose and in vain.
12 Brethren, I beg of you, become as I am [free
from the bondage of Jewish ritualism and ordinances];.
for I also have become as you are [4 Gentile]. You did
me no wrong [‘in those days, do not do it now].
13 On the contrary, you know that it was on ac-
count of a bodily ailment that [I remained and] preached
the Gospel to you the first time.
14 And [yet], although my physical condition was
[such] a trial to you, you did not regard it with contempt,
or scorn and loathe and reject me; but you received me
as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus [Himself]!
15 What has become of that blessed enjoyment and
satisfaction and self-congratulation that once was yours
[in what I taught you and in your regard for me]? For
I bear you witness that you would have torn out your
own eyes and have given them to me [to replace mine],
if that were possible.
16 Have I then become your enemy by telling the
truth to you and ‘dealing sincerely with you?
17 These men [the Judaizing teachers] are zealously
trying to dazzle you — paying court to you, making much
of you; but their purpose is not honorable or worthy or
bThayer, ¢Vincent. dAlternate reading.
GALATIANS 4 709
for any good. What they want to do is to isolate you
[from us who oppose them], so that they may win you
over to their side and get you to court their favor.
18 It is always a fine thing [of course] to be zealously
sought after [as you are, provided that it is] for a good
purpose and done ‘by reason of purity of heart and life,
and not just when I am present with you!
19 My little children, for whom I am again suffering
birth pangs until Christ is completely and permanently
formed (molded) within you!
20 Would that I were with you now and could coax
you vocally, for I am fearful and perplexed about you.
21 ‘Tell me, you who are bent on being under law,
will you listen to what the Law [really] says?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one
by the bondmaid and one by the free [woman]. [Gen.
16: 153.2122, 9)
23 But whereas the child of the slave woman was
born according to the Hesh and had an ordinary birth,
the son of the free [woman] was born in fulfillment of
the promise.
24 Now all this is an allegory; these [two women]
represent two covenants. One covenant originated from
Mount Sinai [where the Law was given], and bears
[children destined] for slavery; this is Hagar.
25 Now Hagar is (stands for) Mount Sinai in Arabia
and she corresponds to and belongs in the same category
with the present Jerusalem, for she is in bondage to-
gether with her children.
‘Thayer. ὁ
710 GALATIANS 5
26 But the Jerusalem above, [*the Messianic king-
dom of Christ], is free and she is our mother.
27 For it is written in the Scriptures, Rejoice, O bar-
ren woman who has not given birth to children; break
forth into a joyful shout, you who are not feeling birth
pangs, for the desolate woman has many more children
than she who has a husband. [Is. 54:1.]
28 But we, brethren, are children [*not by physical
descent, as was Ishmael, but] like Isaac born *in virtue
of promise.
29 Yet [just] as at that time the child Cof ordinary
birth,) born according to the flesh, despised and perse-
cuted him [who was born remarkably,] according to
[the promise and the working of] the CHoly) Spirit, so
it is now also. [Gen. 21:9.]
30 But what does the Scripture say? Cast out and
send away the slave woman and her son, for never shall
the son of the slave woman be heir and share the
inheritance with the son of the free [woman].
[Gen. 21:10.]
31 So, brethren, we [who are born again] are not
children of a slave woman °[the natural], but of the free
[*the supernatural].
CHAPTER 5
N [this] freedom Christ has made us free — complete-
ly liberated us; stand fast then, and do not be
hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a
yoke of slavery — which you have once put off.
2 Notice, it is I, Paul, who tells you that if you re-
®Vincent. bThe Biblical Dlustrator.
GALATIANS 5 heres, 711
ceive circumcision, Christ will be of no profit Cadvan-
tage, avail) to you, [for if you distrust Him, you can
gain nothing from Him].
3 I once more protest and testify to every man who
receives circumcision that he is under obligation and
bound to practise the whole of the Law and its ordi-
nances.
4 IF you seek to be justified and declared righteous
and to be given a right standing with God through the
Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated
Csevered) from Christ. You have fallen away from grace
— from God’s gracious favor and unmerited blessing.
5 For we [not relying on the Law], through the
CHoly) Spirit’s [help] by faith anticipate and wait for
the blessing and good for which our righteousness and
tight standing with God — our ‘conformity to His will in
purpose, thought and action — [causes us] to hope.
6 For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision
nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith
activated and energized and expressed and working
through love.
7 You were running the race nobly. Who has in-
terfered (hindered and stopped you) from heeding and
following the Truth?
8 This [evil] persuasion is not from Him Who called
you — Who invited you to freedom in Christ.
9 A little leaven [a slight inclination to error, or a
few false teachers] leavens the whole lump [perverts the
whole conception of faith, or misleads the whole church].
10 [For my part] I have confidence [toward you] in
bChrysostom. ¢Abbott-Smith.
712 GALATIANS 5
the Lord that you will take no contrary view of the mat-
ter but will come to think with me. But he who is unset-
tling you, whoever he is, will have to bear the penalty.
11 But, brethren, if I still preach circumcision [as
some accuse me of doing, as necessary to salvation), why
am I still suffering persecution? In that case the cross
has ceased to be a stumbling block and is made meaning-
less — done away.
12 I wish those who unsettle and confuse you would
[*go all the way and] cut themselves off!
13 For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to free-
dom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive to
your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for "selfishness ],
but through love you should serve one another.
14 For the whole Law [concerning human relation-
ships] is *complied with in the one precept, You shall
love your neighbor as yourself. [Lev. 19:18.]
15 But if you bite and devour one another [in par-
tisan strife], be careful that you [and your whole fellow-
ship] are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk and live habitually in the CHoly)
Spirit — responsive to and controlled and guided by the
Spirit; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings
and desires of the Mesh — of human nature without God.
17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the
CHoly) Spirit, and the {desires of the] Spirit are opposed
to the flesh CGodless human nature); for these are an-
tagonistic to each other — continually withstanding and
in conflict with each other—so that you are not free
but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.
“Vincent.
GALATIANS 5 713
18 But if you are guided (led) by the CHoly) Spirit
you are not subject to the Law.
19 Now the doings Cpractices) of the flesh are clear
— obvious: they are immorality, impurity, indecency;
20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger
Cill temper), selfishness, divisions Cdissensions), party
spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies);
21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I
warn vou beforehand, just as I did previously, that those
who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the CHoly) Spirit, [the work
which His presence within accomplishes] — is love, joy
(gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbear-
ance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness;
23 (Meekness, humility) gentleness, self-control
Cself-restraint, continence). Against such things there
is no law [*that can bring a charge].
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus, the
Messiah, have crucified the Hesh — the Godless human
nature — with its passions and appetites and desires.
25 If we live by the CHoly) Spirit, let us also walk
by the Spirit. — If by the CHoly) Spirit Jwe have our life
[in God], let us go forward *walking in line, our conduct
controlled by the Spirit.
26 Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited,
competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating
to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.
1Adam Clarke. KVincent.
714 GALATIANS 6
CHAPTER 6
RETHREN, if any person is overtaken in miscon-
duct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual — who
are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit — should
set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any
sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an
attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.
2 Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens and
‘troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and ob-
serve perfectly the law of Christ, the Messiah, and com-
plete ™what is lacking in [your obedience to it].
3 For if any person thinks himself to be somebody
[too important to condescend to shoulder another’s load],
when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own es-
timation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.
4 But let every person carefully scrutinize and
examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He
can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing
something commendable [™in itself alone] without [re-
sorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.
5 For every person will have to bear ![be equal to
understanding and calmly receive] his own (little) load
'Tof oppressive faults].
6 Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of
God] share all good things with his teacher — contribut-
ing to his support.
7 De not be deceived and deluded and misled; God
will not allow Himself to be sneered at — scorned, dis-
dained or mocked [?by mere pretensions or professions,
'Thayer. mVincent. ©Diminutive form of the Greek word.
PMatthew Henry.
GALATIANS 6 715
or His precepts being set aside]. — He inevitably deludes
himself who attempts to delude God. For whatever a
man sows, that and *that only is what he will reap.
8 For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature,
sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and
destruction; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the
Spirit reap life eternal.
9 And let us not lose heart and grow weary and
faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and
at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen
and relax our courage and faint.
10 So then, as occasion and opportunity open to us,
let us do good (*morally) to all people [not only “being
useful or prohtable to them, but also doing what is for
their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a
blessing, especially to those of the household of faith —
those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers.
11 [*Mark carefully these closing words of mine.]
See with what large letters I am writing them with my
own hand.
12 Those who want to make a good impression and
a fine show in the flesh, would try to compel you to
receive circumcision simply so that they may escape
being persecuted for allegiance to the cross of Christ,
the Messiah, the Anointed One.
13 For even the circumcised [Jews] themselves do
not [really] keep the Law, but they want to have you cir-
cumcised in order that they may glory in your flesh —
your subjection to external rites.
®Vincent.
716 GALATIANS 6
14 But far be it from me to glory [in anything or
anyone] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Messiah, through Whom the world has been crucified to:
me, and I to the world!
15 For neither is circumcision [now] of any im-
portance, nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation
[the result of a new birth and a new nature in Christ
Jesus, the Messiah].
16 Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this.
tule — who discipline themselves and regulate their lives
by this principle — even upon the [true] Israel of God!
[Ps. 125:5.]
17 From now on let no person trouble me [by
bmaking it necessary for me to vindicate my apostolic
authority and the divine truth of my Gospel]; for I bear
on my body the brand marks of the Lord Jesus, [the
wounds, scars and other outward evidence of persecu-
tions]. — These testify to His ownership of me!
18 The grace (spiritual favor, blessing) of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah, be with
your spirit, brethren. Amen —so be it.
bVincent.
THE LETTER OF PAUL
TO THE
EPHESIANS
CHAPTER 1
". an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus,
the Messiah, by the divine will —the purpose and
the choice of God — to the saints (the consecrated, set-
apart ones) *at Ephesus who are also faithful and loyal
and steadfast in Christ Jesus:
2 May grace (which is God’s unmerited favor) and
spiritual peace Cwhich means peace with God and har-
mony, unity and undisturbedness) be yours from God our
Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessing (praise, laudation and eulogy) be to the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah,
Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual CPHoly
Spirit given) blessing in the heavenly realm!
4 Even as [*in His love] He chose us — actually picked
us out for Himself as His own —in Christ before the
foundation of the world; that we should be holy Ccon-
secrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His
sight, even above reproach, before lim in love.
5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned Pin
love for us) to be adopted [revealed] as His own children
through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of
His will —‘because it pleased Him and was His kind intent;
6 [So that we might be] to the praise and the com-
mendation of His glorious grace — favor and mercy —
which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
*\any ancient authorities so read. bAlternate reading. ¢ Vincent.
717
718 EPHESIANS 1
7 In Him we have redemption (deliverance and sal-
vation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness )
of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in ac-
cordance with the riches and the generosity of His
gracious favor,
8 Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wis-
dom and understanding (practical insight and prudence),
9 Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His
will — of His plan, of His purpose. [And it is this:] In
accordance with His good pleasure CHis merciful inten-
tion) which He had previously purposed and set forth
in *Him,
10 [He planned] for the maturity of the times and
the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them
up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in
heaven and things on the earth.
11 In Him we also were made [God’s} heritage Cpor-
tion) and »we obtained an inheritance; for we had been
foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in
accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything
in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own]
will.
12 So that we who first hoped in Christ — who first
put our confidence in Him — [have been destined and
appointed] to live for the praise of His glory!
13 In Him you also who have heard the Word of
Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and
have believed in and have adhered to and have relied on
«Some interpret “in Him” to mean ‘‘in Himself;” others, “in Christ.’
bAlternate reading.
EPHESIANS 1 719
Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised
Holy Spirit.
14 That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance
—the first fruit, the pledge and foretaste, the down pay-
ment on our heritage — in anticipation of its full redemp-
tion and our acquiring [complete] possession of it, to the
praise of His glory.
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your
faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the
saints (the people of God),
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, making
mention of you in my prayers.
17 [For I always pray] the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of Glory, that He may grant you a
spirit of wisdom and revelation — of insight into mys-
teries and secrets — in the [decp and intimate] knowledge
of Him,
18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with
light, so that you can know and understand the hope to
which He has called you and how rich is His glorious
inheritance in the saints — His set-apart ones.
19 And [so that you can know and understand]
what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing
greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as
demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,
20 Which He exerted in Christ when He raised
Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right
hand in the heavenly [places],
21 Far above all rule and authority and power and
dominion, and every name that is named — above every
title that can be conferred — not only in this age and in
720 EPHESIANS 2
this world, but also in the age and the world which are
to come.
22 And He has put all things under His feet and
has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of
the church (a headship exercised throughout the church),
[Ps. 8:6.]
23 Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills
all in all — for in that body lives the full measure of Him
Who makes everything complete, and Who fills every-
thing everywhere [with Himself].
CHAPTER 2
ND you [He made alive], when you were dead
[slain] by [your] trespasses and sins
2 In which at one time you walked habitually. You
were following the course and fashion of this world —
were under the sway of the tendency of this present age
-- following the prince of the power of the air. (You
were obedient to him and were under his control,) the
fdemon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of
disobedience — the careless, the rebellious and the un-
believing, who go against the purposes of God.
3 Among these we as well as you once lived and
conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh — our be-
havior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature; obey-
ing the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the
mind — our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark
imaginings. We were then by nature children of [God’s]
wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of
mankind.
4 But God! So rich is He in His mercy! Because
EPHESIANS 2 72)
of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and in-
tense love with which He loved us,
5 Even when we were dead [slain] by [our own]
shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in
fellowship and in union with Christ. — He gave us the
very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which
He quickened Him. [For] it is by grace — by His favor
and mercy which you did not deserve —that you are
saved ("delivered from judgment and made partakers of
Christ’s salvation).
6 And He raised us up together with Him and made
us sit down together — giving us joint seating with Him
—in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in
Christ Jesus, the Messiah, the Anointed One.
μα
7 He did this that He might clearly demonstrate
through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless,
surpassing) riches of His free grace Cfiis unmerited
favor) in kindness and goodness of heart toward us in
Christ Jesus.
8 For it is by free grace CGod’s unmerited favor)
that vou are saved ("delivered from judgment and made
partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith.
And this [salvation] is not of yourselves — of your own
doing, it came not through your own striving — but it is
the gift of God;
9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the
Law’s demands], Iest any man should boast. — It is not
the result of what any one can possibly do, so no one
can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.
*Thayer. bMeyer’s Commentary.
722 EPHESIANS 2
10 For we are God’s [own] handiwork CHis work-
manship), Precreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that
we may do those good works which God predestined
(planned beforehand) for us, (taking paths which He
prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them —
living the good life which He prearranged and made
ready for us to live.
11 ‘Therefore remember that at one time you were
Gentiles [heathen] in the flesh; called Uncircumcision
by those who called themselves Circumcision, [itself a
bmere mark] in the flesh made by human hands.
12 Remember that you were at that time separated
(living apart) from Christ — excluded from all part in
Him; utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of
Israel] as a nation, and strangers with no share in the
sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise — with no
knowledge of or right in God’s agreements, His covenants.
And you had no hope — no promise; you were in the
world without God.
133. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were
[so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have
been brought near.
14 For He is [Himself] our peace —our bond of
unity and harmony. He has made us both [Jew and
Gentile] one (body), and has broken down (destroyed,
abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us,
15 By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the
enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordi-
nances — which He annulled; that He from the two
bArthur 5. Way: ‘The Letters of St. Paul and Hebrews.”
EPHESIANS 2 723
might create in Himself one new man — one new quality
of humanity out of the two —so making peace.
16 And [He designed] to reconcile to God both [Jew
and Gentile, united] in a single body by means of His
cross; thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing
the feud to an end.
17 And He came and preached the glad tidings of
peace to you who were afar off and [peace] to those who
were near. [Is. 57:19.]
18 For it is through Him that we both [whether far
off or near] now have an introduction (access) by one
CHoly) Spirit to the Father — so that we are able to ap-
proach Him.
19 Therefore you are no longer outsiders — exiles,
migrants and aliens, excluded from the rights of citi-
zens; but you now share citizenship with the saints —
God's own people, consecrated and set apart for Him-
self; and you belong to God’s [own] household.
20 You are built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cor-
nerstone.
21 In Him the whole structure is joined (bound,
welded) together harmoniously; and it continues to rise
(grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord—a
sanctuary dedicated, consecrated and sacred to the pres-
ence of the Lord.
22 In Him —and in fellowship with one another —
you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure ]
with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of
God in (by, through) the Spirit.
724 EPHESIANS 3
CHAPTER 3
ΕΠ this reason [*because I preached that you are
thus builded together], I Paul am the prisoner of
Jesus the Christ *for the sake and on behalf of you
Gentiles.
2 Assuming that you have heard of the stewardship
of God’s grace CHis unmerited favor) that was en-
trusted to me [to dispense to you] for your beneht;
3 And how the mystery (secret) was made known
to me and I was allowed to comprehend it by direct reve-
lation, as I already briefly wrote you,
4 When you read this you can understand my
insight into the mystery of Christ.
5 [This mystery] was never disclosed to human
beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to
His holy apostles [consecrated messengers] and prophets
by the CHoly) Spirit.
6 [It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow
heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body, and
joint partakers (sharing) in the same divine promise in
Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings
(the Gospel).
7 ΟΕ this [Gospel] I was made ἃ minister according
to the gift of God’s free grace Cundeserved favor), which
was bestowed on me by the exercise — the working in all
its effectiveness — of His power.
8 ‘To me, though I am the very least of all the saints
(God’s consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege)
was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to
«The Jews persecuted and imprisoned Paul because he was an apostle to
the Gentiles and preached the gospel to them. — Matthew Henry.
EPHESIANS 3 725
the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, in-
calculable and exhaustless) riches of Christ — wealth
which no human being could have searched out.
9 Also to enlighten all men and make plain to them
what is the plan [regarding the Gentiles and providing
for the salvation of all men,] of the mystery kept hidden
through the ages and concealed until now in [the mind
of] God Who created all things by Christ Jesus.
10 [The purpose is] that through the church the
“complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite
variety and innumerable aspects might now be made
known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principali-
ties and powers.) in the heavenly sphere.
11 This is in accordance with the terms of the
eternal and timeless purpose which He has realized and
carried into effect, in [the person of] Christ Jesus our
Lord;
12 In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare
to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free
access — an unreserved approach to God with freedom
and without fear.
13 So I ask you not to lose heart — not to faint or
become despondent through fear — at what I am suffer-
ing in your behalf. [Rather glory in it] for it is an honor
to you.
14 For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan
by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my
knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 For Whom every family in heaven and on earth
‘Webster in defining “manifold” (the King James rendering of ‘‘polu-
poikilos’’).
bMany authorities consider that Pau] here resumes the thread of verse 1.
726 EPHESIANS 3
is named — [that Father] from Whom all ‘fatherhood
takes its title and derives its name.
16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of
His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty
power in the inner man by the (Holy) Spirit [Himself]
— indwelling your innermost being and personality.
17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell —
settle down, abide, make His permanent home — in your
hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded
securely on love,
18 ‘That you may have the power and be strong to
apprehend and grasp with all the saints CGod’s devoted
people, the experience of that love) what is the breadth
and length and height and depth [of it];
19 [That you may really come] to know — practical-
ly, *through experience for yourselves—the love of
Christ, which far surpasses "mere knowledge Cwithout
experience); that you may be filled Cthrough all your
being) ®unto all the fullness of God — [that is] may have
the richest measure of the divine Presence, and "become
a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself!
20 Now to Him Who, by Cin consequence of) the
[action of His] power that is at work within us, is able
to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far
over and above all that we [dare] ask or think — infinite-
ly beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes
or dreams —
21 ‘To Him be glory in the church and in Christ
Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and _ ever.
Amen — so be it.
®*Vincent’s Word Studies. bThayer. cAlternate reading.
EPHESIANS 4 727
CHAPTER 4
THEREFORE, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to
and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the
[divine] calling to which you have been called — with
behavior that is a credit to the summons to God’s service,
2 Living as becomes you — with complete lowliness of
mind (humility) and meekness Cunselfishness, gentle-
ness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another
and making allowances because you love one another.
3. Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the
harmony and oneness of [produced by] the Spirit in the
binding power of peace.
4 [There is] one body and one Spirit, just as there is
also one hope [that belongs] to the calling you received.
5 [There is] one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of [us] all, Who is above all
CSovereign over all), pervading all and {living} in us all.
7 Yet grace CGod’s unmerited favor) was given to
each of us individually — not indiscriminately, but in
different ways — in proportion to the measure of Christ's
[rich and bounteous] gift.
8 Therefore it is said, When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive — He led a train of *vanquished
foes — and He bestowed gifts on men. [Ps. 68:18.]
9 [But He ascended?] Now what can this, He as-
cended, mean but that He had previously descended
from the height of heaven into [the depth], the lower
parts of the earth?
O'Hfe conquered those who had conquered us; such as sin, the devil and
death.’’ — Matthew Henry.
728 EPHESIANS 4
10 He Who descended is the [very] same as He
Who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that
He [His presence] might fill all things — the whole uni-
verse, from the lowest to the highest.
11 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appoint-
ed and gave men to us,] some to be apostles (special
messengers), some prophets Cinspired preachers and ex-
pounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel,
traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His
flock) and teachers.
12 His intention was the perfecting and the full
equipping of the saints CHis consecrated people), [that
they should do] the work of ministering toward building
up Christ’s body (the church),
13 [That it might develop] until we all attain one-
ness in the faith and in the comprehension of the @full
and accurate knowledge of the Son of God; that [we
might arrive] at really mature manhood — the complete-
ness of personality which is nothing less than the standard
height of Christ’s own perfection — the measure of the
stature of the fullness of the Christ, and the complete-
ness found in Him.
14 So then, we may no longer be children, tossed
[like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching,
and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the
prey of] the cunning and cleverness of Cunscrupulous
men, (gamblers engaged) in every shifting form of trick-
ery in inventing errors to mislead.
15 Rather, let our lives lovingly “express truth in all
things — speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly. En-
4Vincent. €Literally, dice-playing.
EPHESIANS 4 729
folded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all]
things into Him, Who is the Head, [even] Christ, the
Messiah, the Anointed One.
16 For because of Him the whole body Cthe church,
in all its various parts closely) joined and firmly knit to-
gether by the joints and ligaments with which it is sup-
plied, when each part [with power adapted to its need]
is working properly Cin all its functions), grows to full
maturity, building itself up in love.
17 So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name
of] the Lord [as in His Presence], that you must no
longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their
perverseness — in the folly, vanity and emptiness of their
souls and the futility — of their minds.
18 Their 4moral understanding is darkened and their
reasoning is beclouded. [Thev are] alienated Cestranged,
self-banished) from the life of God — with no share in it.
[This is] because of the ignorance—the want of
knowledge and perception, the willful blindness — that is
ddeep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart Cto
the insensitiveness of their moral nature).
19 In their spiritual apathy they have become cal-
lous and past feeling and reckless, and have abandoned
themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and
greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their
depraved desires may suggest and demand].
20 But you did not so learn Christ!
21 Assuming that you have really heard Him and
been taught by Him, as fall] Truth is in Jesus — em-
bodied and personifed in Him:
“Vincent.
730 EPHESIANS 4
22 Strip yourselves of your former nature — put off
and discard your old unrenewed self — which character-
ized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt
through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your
mind — having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude;
24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self)
created in God’s image, (Godlike) in true righteousness
and holiness.
25 Therefore, rejecting all falsity and done now with
it, let every one express the truth with his neighbor,
for we are all parts of one body and members one of
another. [Zech. 8:16.]
26 When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your
wrath — your exasperation, your fury or indignation —
last until the sun goes down.
27 Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil —
give no opportunity to him.
28 Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him
be industrious, making an honest living with his own
hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need.
29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word,
nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of
your mouth; but only such [speech] as is good and bene-
ficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the
need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give
grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, Cdo
not offend, or vex, or sadden Him) by Whom you were
sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the
EPHESIANS 5 731
day of redemption — of final deliverance through Christ
from evil and the consequences of sin.
31 Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath Cpas-
sion, rage, bad temper) and resentment Canger, animosi-
ty) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and
slander Cevilspeaking, abusive or blasphemous language)
be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will or
baseness of any kind).
32 And become useful and helpful and kind to one
another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding,
loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and free-
ly], as God in Christ forgave you.
CHAPTER 5
THEREFORE be imitators of God —copy Him and
follow His example — as well-beloved children [imi-
tate their father].
2 And walk in love —esteeming and delighting in
one another — as Christ loved us and gave Himself up
for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so
that it became] a sweet fragrance. [Ezek. 20:41.]
3. But immorality (sexual vice) and ali impurity [‘of
lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not
even be named among you, as is fitting and proper
among saints (God’s consecrated people).
4 Let there be no filthiness Cobscenity, indecency)
nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse
jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead
voice your thankfulness [to God].
bVincent. ¢Thayer.
732 EPHESIANS 5
5 For be sure of this, that no person practising sexual
vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is
covetous — that is, who has lustful desire for the property
of others and is greedy for gain — [for] that [in effect]
is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of
Christ and of God.
6 Let no one delude and deceive you with empty
excuses and groundless arguments [for these sins], for
through these things the wrath of God comes upon the
sons of rebellion and disobedience.
7 So do not associate or be sharers with them.
8 For once you were darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord; walk as children of light — lead the
lives of those native-born to the Light.
9 For the fruit—the effect, the product —of the
Light, "the Spirit, [consists] in every form of kindly
goodness, uprightness of heart and trueness of life.
10 And try to learn [in your experience] what is
pleasing to the Lord; — [let your lives be constant] proofs
of what is most acceptable to Him.
11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the
fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead
[let your lives be so in contrast as to] ‘expose and reprove
and convict them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the
things that [such people] practise in secret.
13 But when anything is exposed and reproved by
the light, it is made visible and clear; and where every-
thing is visible and clear there is light.
14 Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise
tSome ancient authorities so read, ¢Thayer,
EPHESIANS 5 733
from the dead, and Christ shall shine [make day dawn]
upon you and give you light. [Is. 60:1, 2 with 26:19.]
15 Look carefully then how you walk! Live purpose-
fully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and
witless, but as wise — sensible, intelligent people;
16 Making the very most of the time — 4buying up
each opportunity — because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and
foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the
will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is de-
bauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the
CHoly) Spirit. [Prov. 23:20.]
19 Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [®and in-
struments], and making melody with all your heart to
the Lord,
20 At all times and for everything giving thanks in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
21 Be subject to one another out of reverence for
Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One.
22 Wives, be subject — be submissive and adapt your-
selves — to vour own husbands as [a service] to the Lord.
23 For the husband is head of the wife as Christ
is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of [His]
body.
24 As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives
also be subject in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the
church and gave Himself up for her,
dAlternate reading. eBerry’s 'Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.”
734 EPHESIANS 6
26 So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed
her by the washing of water with the Word,
27 That He might present the church to Himself
in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such
things — that she might be holy and faultless.
28 Even so husbands should love their wives as
[being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his
own wife loves himself.
29 For no man ever hated his own Aesh, but nourishes
and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the
church,
30 Because we are members (parts) of His body.
31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and
his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two
shall become one flesh. [Gen. 2:24.]
32 This mystery is very great, but I speak concern-
ing [the relation of] Christ and the church.
33 However, let each man of you (without excep-
tion) love his wife as [being in a sense] his very own
self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences
her husband — *that she notices him, regards him, honors
him, prefers him, venerates and esteems him; and "that
she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires
him exceedingly.
CHAPTER 6
HILDREN, obey your parents in the Lord [as His
representatives], for this is just and right.
2 Honor Cesteem and value as precious) your father
bWebster’s list of English words with the same or nearly the same
essential meaning as ‘“‘respect’”? and ‘“‘reverence.’’ The latter includes
the word ‘‘adore’” in the sense not applied to Deity.
EPHESIANS 6 735
and your mother; this is the first commandment with a
promise: [Ex. 20:12.]
3. That all may be well with you and that you may
live long on the earth.
4 Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children
to anger — do not exasperate them to resentment — but
rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and
the counsel and admonition of the Lord.
5 Servants (slaves), be obedient to those who are
your physical masters, having respect for them and eager
concern to please them, in singleness of motive and with
all your heart, as [service] to Christ [Himself].
6 Not in the way of eyeservice—as if they were
watching you — and only to please men; but as servants
(slaves) of Christ, doing the will of God heartily and
with your whole soul;
7 Rendering service readily with goodwill, as to
the Lord and not to men,
8 Knowing that for whatever good any one does,
he will receive his reward from the Lord, whether he is
slave or free.
9 You masters, act on the same [principle] toward
them, and give up threatening and using violent and
abusive words, knowing that He Who is both their Mas-
ter and yours is in heaven, and that there is no respect
of persons — no partiality — with Him.
10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord — be em-
powered through your union with Him; draw your
strength from [lim —that strength which His [bound-
[655] might provides.
11 Put on God’s whole armor—the armor of a
736 EPHESIANS 6
heavy-armed soldier, which God supplies — that you may
be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies
and the deceits of the devil.
12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood —
contending only with physical opponents — but against
the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master
spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness,
against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly
Csupernatural)) sphere.
13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you
may be able to resist avd stand your ground on the evil
day [of danger], and having done all [the crisis de-
mands], to stand [firmly in your place}.
14 Stand therefore—hold your ground — having
tightened the belt of truth around your loins, and having
put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude
and tight standing with God;
15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face
the enemy with the *firm-footed stability, the promptness
and the readiness ‘produced by the good news] of the
Gospel of peace. [Is. 52:7.]
16 Lift up over all the (covering) shield of ‘saving
faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming
missiles of the wicked [one].
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword
the Spirit ‘wields, which is the Word of God.
18 Pray at all times—on every occasion, in every
season — in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and
entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong
“Vincent. ¢Williams: Subjective genitive. t' Thayer.
EPHESIANS 6 737
purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all
the saints CGod’s consecrated people).
19 And also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may
be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim
boldly the mystery of the good news [of the Gospel].
20 For which I am an ambassador in a coupling
chain [in prison. Pray] that I may declare it boldly and
courageously as I ought to do.
21 Now that you may know how I am and what I
am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful
minister in the Lord [and His service] will tell you every-
thing.
22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that
you may know how we are and that he may ‘console and
cheer and encourage and strengthen your hearts,
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love joined with
faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
the Messiah, the Anointed One.
24+ Grace CGod’s undeserved favor) be with al] who
love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying and incorrupti-
ble [love]. Amen — so let it be.
¥ Thayer.
THE LETTER OF PAUL
TO THE
PHILIPPIANS
CHAPTER 1
Ps; and Timothy, bondservants of Christ Jesus, the
Messiah, to all the saints CGod’s consecrated peo-
ple) in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the
bishops [overseers] and deacons [assistants]:
2 Grace (favor and blessing) to you and heart peace
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, the
Messiah.
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.
4 In every prayer of mine I always make my entreaty
and petition for you all with joy (delight).
5 [I thank my God] for your fellowship — your *sym-
pathetic co-operation and contributions and partnership —
in advancing the good news (the Gospel) from the
first day [you heard it] until now.
6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing,
that He Who began a good work in you will continue
until the day of Jesus Christ — right up to the time of
His return — developing [that good work] and perfecting
and bringing it to full completion in you.
7 It is right and appropriate for me to have this
confidence and feel this way about you all, because even
as 6you do me, I hold you in my heart as partakers and
sharers, one and all with me, of grace CGod’s unmerited
favor and spiritual blessing). [This is true] both
when I am shut up in prison and when 1 am out in the
defense and confirmation of the good news (the Gospel).
® Vincent. b Alternate reading, ‘‘you have me in your heart.”
738
PHILIPPIANS 1 739
δ For God is my witness how I long for and *pursue
you all with love, in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus
[ Himself]!
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet
more and more and extend to its fullest development in
knowledge and all keen insight — that is, that your love
may [*display itself in] greater depth of acquaintance
and more comprehensive discernment;
10 So that you may surely learn to sense what is
vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of
real value — recognizing the highest and the best, and
‘distinguishing the moral differences; and that you may
be untainted avd pure and unerring and blameless, that
—with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied — you
may [approach] the day of Christ, not stumbling zor
causing others to stumble.
11 May you abound in and be filled with the fruits
of righteousness Cof right standing with God and right
doing) which come through Jesus Christ, the Anointed
One, to the honor and praise of God — that His glory
mav be both manifested and recognized.
12 Now I want you to know and continue to rest
assured, brethren, that what [has happened] to me
[this imprisonment, ] has actually only served to advance
and give a renewed impetus to the [spreading of the]
good news — of the Gospel.
13 So much is this a fact that throughout the whole
imperial guard and to all the rest [here], my imprison-
ὃ Thayer. b Vincent.
¢ Alternate reading, “distinguish the things that differ.”
740 PHILIPPIANS 1
ment has become generally known to be in Christ — in
that I am a prisoner in His service and for Him.
14 And [also] most of the brethren have derived’
fresh confidence in the Lord because of my chains, and.
are much more bold to speak and publish fearlessly the:
Word of God — acting with more freedom and indiffer--
ence to the consequences.
15 Some, it is true, [actually] preach Christ, the
Messiah, [for no better reason than] out of envy and
rivalry Cparty spirit); but others are doing so out of a
loyal spirit and goodwill.
16 ®The latter [proclaim Christ] out of love, because
they recognize and know that I am (providentially) put.
here for the defense of the good news (the Gospel).
17 *But the former preach Christ out of a party
spirit, insincerely — out of no pure motive, but think-
ing to annoy me — supposing they are making my bond-
age more bitter and my chains more galling.
18 But what does it matter, so long as either way,
whether in pretense [for personal ends] or in all honesty
[for the furtherance of the Truth], Christ is being pro-
claimed? And in that I [now] rejoice,
19 Yes, and I shall rejoice [hereafter] also. For I
am well assured and indeed know that through your
prayers and a ‘bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus
Christ, the Messiah, this will turn out for my preserva-
tion [for the spiritual health and ‘welfare of my own
soul and avail toward the saving work of the Gospel].
20 ‘This is in keeping with my own eager desire and
4 The order of verses 16 and 17 has been reversed for the sake of clarity in
almost all versions since the King James. incent,
PHILIPPIANS 1 74]
persistent expectation and hope, that I shall not disgrace
myself nor be put to shame in anything; but that with
the utmost freedom of speech and unfailing courage, now
as always heretofore, Christ, the Messiah, will be magni-
fied and get glory and praise in this body of mine and be
boldly exalted in my person, whether through (by) life
or through Cby) death.
21 Tor me, to live is Christ — His life in me; and
to die is gain — [the gain of the glory of eternity].
22 ‘If, however, it is to be life in the flesh and I
am to live on here, that means fruitful service for me;
so I can say nothing as to my personal preference —I
cannot choose,
23 But I am hard pressed between the two. My
yearning desire is to depart — to be free of this world, to
set forth — and be with Christ, for that is far, far better;
24 But to remain in my body is more needful and
essential for your sake.
25 Since J] am convinced of this, I know that I shall
remain and stay by you all, to promote your progress
and joy in believing.
26 So that in me you may have abundant cause for
exultation and glorying in Christ Jesus, through my
coming to you again.
27 Only be sure as citizens so to conduct your-
selves that your manner of life will be worthy of
the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, so that whether
Ι [do] come and see you or am absent, I. may hear this
of you: that you are standing firm in united spirit and
purpose, striving side by side and contending with a
single mind for the faith of the glad tidings (the Gospel).
742 PHILIPPIANS 2
28 And do not [for a moment] be frightened or in
timidated in anything by your opponents and adver
saries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be <
clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending’
destruction; but [a sure token and evidence] of your de
liverance and salvation, and that from God.
29 For you have been granted [the privilege] fo.
Christ’s sake not only to believe —adhere to, rely on
and trust — in Him but also to suffer in His behalf.
30 So you are engaged in the same conflict which
you saw me [wage] and which you now hear to be mine.
fstill].
CHAPTER 2
O by whatever [appeal to you there is in our mutual
dwelling in Christ, by whatever] strengthening and
consoling and encouraging [our relationship] in Him
[affords], by whatever persuasive ‘incentive there is in
love, by whatever participation in the CHoly) Spirit
[we share] and by whatever depth of affection and com-
passionate sympathy,
2 Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony
and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having
the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious
mind and intention.
3 Do nothing from factional motives — through con-
tentiousness, strife, selfishness or for unworthy ends —
or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead,
in the true spirit of humility Clowliness of mind) let each
regard the others as better than and superior to himself —
© Vincent.
PHILIPPIANS 2 743
hinking more highly of one another than you do of
‘ourselves,
4 Let each of you esteem and look upon and be con-
erned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each
or the interests of others.
5 Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble]
nind be in you which was in Christ Jesus. — Let Him
ye your example in humility —
6 Who, although being essentially one with God and
n the form of God [ possessing the fullness of the attri-
utes which make God God}, did not *think this equality
with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped “or retained;
7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges and ‘rightful
lignity] so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in
hat He became like men and was born a human being.
8 And after He had appeared in human form He
ibased and humbled Himself [still further] and cairied
His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death
9 [the] cross!
9 Therefore [because He stooped so low], God has
highly exalted Him and has ‘freely bestowed on Him
the name that is above every name,
10 ‘That in Cat) the name of Jesus every knee tshould
Cmust.) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
2arth,
11 And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess
znd acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father.
> Warfield’s ‘Biblical Doctrines.’ ¢ Berry. 4 Thayer. 9 Vincent.
“Should” is past tense of ‘shall’, implying authority or compulsion.
744 PHILIPPIANS 2
12 Therefore, my dear ones, as you have alway
obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with th.
enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but muc
more because I am absent, work out — cultivate, carr
out to the goal and fully complete — your own salvatio:
with reverence and awe and trembling [self-distrust, the
is, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience
watchfulness against temptation; timidly shrinking fror
whatever might offend God and discredit the name c
Christ].
13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who !:
all the while "effectually at work in you —energizin’
and creating in you the power and desire — both to wii
and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction an.
‘delight.
14 Do all things without grumbling and faultfndin,.
and complaining [against God] and "questioning am
doubting [among yourselves].
15 That you may show yourselves to be blameles
and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, childrei
of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in thi
midst of a crooked and wicked generation — [spiritually
perverted and perverse. Among whom you are seen a
bright lights — stars or beacons shining out clearly — ir
the [dark] world;
16 Holding out [to it] and offering [to all men] the
Word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have
something of which exultantly to rejoice and glory ir
4 Vincent. 1 Souter.
PHILIPPIANS 2 745
hat I did not run my race in vain or spend my labor
Ο ΠΟ purpose.
17 Even if [my lifeblood] must be poured out as a
ibation on the sacrificial offering of your faith [to God],
till 1 am glad [to do it] and ‘congratulate you all on
‘your share in] it;
18 And you also in like manner be glad and 'con-
r7ratulate me on [my share in] it.
19 But I hope and trust in the Lord Jesus soon
Ὁ send Timothy to you, so that I may also be encour-
iged and cheered by learning news of you.
20 For I have no one like him — no one of so kin-
Jred a spirit— who will be so genuinely interested in
your welfare and devoted to your interests.
21 For the others all seek [to advance] their own
interests, not those of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
22 But Timothy’s tested worth you know, how as
a son with his father he has toiled with me zealcusly
{serving and helping to advance] the good news Cthe
Gospel).
23 I hope therefore to send him promptly, just as
soon as | know how my case is going to turn out.
24 But [really] 1 am confident and fully trusting in
the Lord that shortly I myself shall come to you also.
25 However, I thought it necessary to send Epa-
phroditus [back] to you. [He has been] my brother
and companion in labor and my fellow soldier, as well
as [having come as] your special messenger (apostle)
and minister to my need.
' Lightfoot: “St. Paul's Epistle to the Philippians”; Moulton and Mil-
ligan: ‘‘'The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament.”
746 PHILIPPIANS 3
26 For he has been Chomesick,) longing for you all
and has been distressed because you had heard that he
was ill.
27 He certainly was ill [too], near to death. But
God had compassion on him, and not only on him but
also on me, lest I should have sorrow [over him] Jcoming
upon sorrow.
28 Sol have sent him the more willingly and eager-
ly, that you may be gladdened at seeing him again, and
that I may be the less disquieted.
29 Welcome him [home] then in the Lord with all
joy, and honor and highly appreciate men like him,
30 For it was through working for Christ that he
came so near death, risking his [very] life to complete
the deficiencies in your service to me [which distance
prevented you yourselves from rendering].
CHAPTER 3
OR the rest, my brethren, delight yourselves in
the Lord and continue to rejoice that you are in
Him. To keep writing to you [over and over] of the same
things is not irksome to me, and it is [a precaution] for
your safety.
2 Look out for those dogs [the Judaizers], look out
for those mischief-workers, look out for those who muti-
late the flesh.
3 For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who
worship God *in spirit and by the Spirit of God, and
exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and
put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in
1 Vincent. k Alternate reading.
PHILIPPIANS 3 747
the flesh and on outward privileges and physical ad-
vantages and external appearances.
4 Though for myself I have [at least grounds] to
rely on the flesh. If any other man considers that he
has or seems to have reason to rely on the flesh and his
physical and outward advantages, still more have I!
5 Circumcised when I was eight days old, of the race
of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [and the
son] of Hebrews; as to the observance of the Law I was
of [the party of] the Pharisees,
6 As to my zeal I was a persecutor of the church,
and by the Law's standard of righteousness — [supposed ]
justice, uprightness and right standing with God —I was
proven to be blameless and no fault was found with me.
7 But whatever former things I had that might have
been gains to me, I have come to consider as Cione com-
bined) loss for Christ’s sake.
8 Yes, furthermore I count everything as loss com-
pared to the possession of the priceless privilege — the
overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth and su-
preme advantage — of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimate-
ly acquainted with Him, of perceiving and recognizing
and understanding Him more fully and clearly. For
His sake I have lost everything and consider it all! to
be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may
win (gain) Christ, the Anointed One,
9 And that I may [actually] be found and known as
in Him, not having any (self-achieved) righteousness
that can be called my own, based on my obedience to
te “gains” are plural, but they are all counted as one “Joss”, singular,
-Vincent.
748 PHILIPPIANS 3
the Law’s demands — ritualistic uprightness and [sup-
posed] right standing with God thus acquired — but
possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes
through faith in Christ, the Anointed One, the [truly]
tight standing with God, which comes from God by
(saving) faith.
10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know
Him —that I may progressively become more deeply
and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and
recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His
Person] more strongly and more clearly. And that I
may in that same way come to know the power outflow-
ing from His resurrection [Jwhich it exerts over be-
lievers]; and that I may so share His sufferings as to be
continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even]
to His death, [in the hope]
11 ‘That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and
moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the
dead [even while in the body].
12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal] or am
already made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp)
and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus, the
Messiah, has laid hold of me and made me His own.
13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have cap-
tured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do — it
is my one aspiration: forgetting what lies behind and
straining forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme
1 Vincent
* Williams: Double compound “non,’’ meaning a spiritual, moral resur-
rection, not the final, physical one, which will be the climax.
PHILIPPIANS 4 749
nd heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is
alling us upward.
15 So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and
itl-grown have this mind and hold these convictions,
nd if in any respect you have a different attitude of
ind, God will make that clear to you also.
16 Only let us hold true to what we have already
ttained and walk and order our lives by that.
17 Brethren, together follow my example and ob
2rve those who live after the pattern we have set you.
18 For there are many, of whom I have often told
ou and now tell you even with tears, who walk (live) as
nemies of the cross of Christ, the Anointed One.
19 They are doomed and their fate [is] eternal
risery Cperdition); their god is their stomach Ctheir ap-
etites, their sensuality) and they glory in their shame,
siding with earthly things and beiug of their party.
20 But we are citizens of the state Ccommonwealth,
omeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we
2arnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord
esus Christ, the Messiah, [as] Savior,
21 Who will ‘transform and fashion anew the body
f our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of
lis glory and majesty, by exerting that power which en-
bles Him even to subject everything to Himself.
CHAPTER 4
HEREFORE, my brethren, whom I love and yearn
to see, my delight and crown (wreath of victory),
hus stand frm in the Lord, my beloved.
2 I entreat and advise Euodia and I entreat and
Thayer. ¢ Vincent.
750 PHILIPPIANS 4
advise Syntyche to agree and to work in harmony in the
Lord.
3 And I exhort you too, [my] genuine yokefellow,
help these [two women to keep on co-operating], for they
have toiled along with me in [the spreading of] the good
news (the Gospel), as have Clement and the rest of my
fellow workers whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always — delight, gladden
yourselves in Him; again I say, Rejoice! [Ps. 37:4.]
5 Let all men know and perceive and recognize your
unselfishness — your considerateness, your forbearing
spirit. The Lord is near — He is 4coming soon.
6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything,
but in every circumstance and in everything by prayer
and petition [definite requests] with thanksgiving con-
tinue to make your wants known to God.
7 And God’s peace [be yours, that “tranquil state
of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so
fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly
lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends
all understanding, shall ¢garrison and mount guard over
your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever
is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and
lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if
there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything
worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of
these things — fix your minds on them.
4 Thayer. 5 Gurnall (—Vincent).
PHILIPPIANS 4 751
9 Practise what you have learned and received and
card and seen in me, and model your way of living on
;, and the God of peace — of *untroubled, undisturbed
vell-being — will be with you.
10 I was made very happy in the Lord that now
‘ou have revived your interest in my welfare after so
ong a time; you were indeed thinking of me, but you
1ad no opportunity to show it.
11 Not that I am implying that I was in any per-
onal want, for I have learned how to be content (satis-
ied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted)
n whatever state I am.
12 I know how to be abased and live humbly in
straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy
olenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and
il! circumstances, the secret of facing every situation,
whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency
and to spare or going without and being in want.
13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who em-
powers me — I am ready for anything and equal to any-
thing through Ilim Who ‘infuses inner strength into
me, [that is, | am self-sufficient in Chirist’s sufficiency].
14 But it was right and commendable and noble of
you to contribute for my needs and to share my difficul-
ties with me.
15 And you Philippians yourselves well know that
in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left
Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into part-
Ὁ Cremer. f Vincent.
& Content” (Cv. 11) literally means ‘‘self-suficient.”
752 PHILIPPIANS 4
nership with me and opened up [a debit and credit]
account in giving and receiving except you only.
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contribu-
tions] for my needs, not only once but a second time.
17 Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I
do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to
your credit — the harvest of blessing that is accumulating
to your account.
18 But I have [your full payment] and more;
I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now
that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you
sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor [of] an offering
and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He
delights.
19 And my God will liberally supply Cfill to the
full) your every need according to His riches in glory in
Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory forever and
ever — through the endless eternities of the eternities.
Amen, so be it.
21 Remember me to every saint (every born-again
believer) in Christ Jesus. The brethren (my ‘associates
who are with me greet you.
22 All the saints—God’s consecrated ones here —
wish to be remembered to you, especially those of Caesar’s
household.
23 ‘The grace (spiritual favor and blessing) of the
Lord Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, be with your spirit
Amen — so be it.
* Thayer.
THE LETTER OF PAUL
TO THE
COLOSSIANS
CHAPTER 1
AUL, an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus,
P the Messiah, by the will of God, and Timothy [our]
brother,
2 To the saints (the consecrated people of God) and
*believing and faithful brethren in Christ, who are at
Colossae: Grace (spiritual favor and blessing) to you
and heart peace from God our Father.
3 We *continually give thanks to God the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, as we are praying
for vou,
4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
(‘the leaning of your entire human personality on Him
in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdum
and goodness] and of the love which you [have and
show] for all the saints CGod’s consecrated ones),
5 Because of the hope [of experiencing what is]
laid up—#reserved and waiting —for you in heaven.
Of this [hope] you heard in the past in the message of
the truth of the Gospel,
6 Which has come to you. Indeed in the whole
world [that Gospel] is bearing fruit and still is growing
‘[by its own inherent power], even as it has done among
vourselves ever since the day you first heard and came
to know and understand the grace of God in truth. —
[That is,] you came to know the grace Cundeserved
®*Vincent. » Always, belongs with give thanks, not elsewhere (-Vincent).
¢ Souter’s “Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament.”’
7595
754 COLOSSIANS 1
favor) of God in reality, deeply and clearly and thor-
oughly, becoming accurately and intimately acquainted
with it.
7 You so learned it from Epaphras our beloved fel-
low servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ in our
stead and as our representative, and ‘yours.
8 Also he has informed us of your love in the CHoly)
Spirit.
9 For this reason we also, from the day we heard of
it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request
for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the “full
Cdeep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual
wisdom [that is, tin comprehensive insight into the ways
and purposes of God] and in understanding and discern-
ment of spiritual things;
10 That you may walk Clive and conduct yourselves)
in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him
and ‘desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in
every good work and steadily growing and increasing in
Cand ®by) the knowledge of God — with fuller, deeper
and clearer insight, "acquaintance and recognition.
11 [We pray] that you may be invigorated and
strengthened with all power, according to the might of
His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and
patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy,
12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified
and made us fit to share the “portion which is the in-
heritance of the saints CGod’s holy people) in the Light.
13. [The Father] has delivered and ‘drawn us to
¢ Many ancient authorities read ‘‘your.”’ 4 Vincent. ih ee Souter.
f Thayer. & The best texts read ‘‘by.’’ bh Abbott-Smith.
COLOSSIANS 1 755
Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness
and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son 'of
His love,
14 In Whom we have our redemption through His
blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.
15 [Now] He is the Jexact likeness of the unseen
God — the visible representation of the invisible; He is
the First-born — of all creation.
16 For it was in Him that all things were created,
in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen,
whether thrones, dominions, rulers or authorities; all
things were created and exist through Him (by His
service, intervention) and in and for Him.
17 And He Himself existed before all things and in
Him all things consist — cohere, are held together. [Prov.
8:22-31.]
18 He also is the Head of [His] body, the church;
seeing He is the Beginning, the First-born from among
the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every
respect might occupy the chief place — stand first and be
pre-eminent.
19 For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine
fullness — the sum total of the divine perfection, powers
and attributes — should dwell in Him ‘permanently.
20 And God purposed that through — 'by the service,
the intervention of — Him (the Son) all things should
be completely reconciled *back to Himself, whether on
earth or in heaven, as through Him [the Father] made
peace by means of the blood of His cross.
1 Literal meaning. J Williams: ‘Strong terms; so exact likeness.”
kK Vincent. ! Thayer.
756 COLOSSIANS 1
21 And although you at one time were estranged
and alienated from Him and of hostile attitude of mind
in your wicked activities,
22 Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah,] reconciled
[you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in
order to present you holy and faultless and irreproach-
able in His [the Father’s] presence.
23 [And this He will do] provided that you continue
to ™stay with and in the faith [in Christ], well-grounded
and settled and steadfast, not shifting or moving away
from the hope [which rests on and is inspired by] the
glad tidings (the Gospel), which you heard and which
has been preached ®[as being designed for and offered
without restrictions] to every person under heaven, and
of which [Gospel] I Paul became a minister.
24 [Even] now I rejoice in ™the midst of my suffer-
ings on your behalf. And in my own person I am mak-
ing up whatever is still lacking and remains to be com-
pleted ["on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, for the sake
of His body, which is the Church.
25 In it J became a minister in accordance with the
divine ™stewardship which was entrusted to me for you
— as its object and for your beneftt — to make the Word
of God fully known [among you].
26 ‘The mystery of which was hidden for ages and
generations (°from angels and men), but is now revealed
to His holy people Cthe saints),
27 ‘To whom God was pleased to make known how
great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this
m Vincent. _" Clarke’s Commentary, and others.
® Alternate reading.
COLOSSIANS 2 757
mystery, which is, Christ within and among you the
hope of [realizing] the glory.
28 Him we preach and proclaim, warning and ad-
monishing every one and instructing every one in all
wisdom, [*in comprehensive insight into the ways and
purposes of God], that we may present every person
mature — full-grown, fully initiated, complete and per-
fect —in Christ, the Anointed One.
29 For this I labor [*unto weariness], striving with
all the "superhuman energy which He so mightily en-
kindles and works within me.
CHAPTER 2
OR I want you to know how great is my solicitude
for you — in how severe an inward struggle J am
engaged for you — and for those [believers] at Laodicea,
and for all who (*like yourselves) have never seen my
face and known me personally.
2 [For my concern is] that their hearts may be
bbraced Ccomforted, cheered and encouraged) as they
are knit togethe: in love, that they may come to have all
the abounding wealth and blessings of assured convic-
tion of understanding, and that they may become pro-
gressively ‘more intimately acquainted with, and may
know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly,
that mystic secret of God [which is] Christ, the Anointed
One.
3 In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom, [of
"comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of
4 Souter. Ὁ Vincent. ¢ Trench.
758 COLOSSIANS 2
God], and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and
enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden.
4 I say this in order that no one may mislead and
delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive
arguments and beguiling speech.
5 For though I am away from you in body, yet I
am with you in spirit, delighted at the sight of your
[standing shoulder to shoulder in such] orderly array
and the firmness and the solid front and steadfastness
of your faith in Christ, [that “leaning of the entire human
personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in
His power, wisdom and goodness].
6 As you have therefore received the Christ, [even]
Jesus the Lord, [so] walk — regulate your lives and con-
duct yourselves — in union with and conformity to Him.
7 Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply
planted [in Him] — fixed and founded in Him — being
continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly
more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you
were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with
thanksgiving.
8 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or
makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy
and intellectualism, and vain deceit Cidle fancies and
plain nonsense), following human tradition — men’s ideas
of the materia] [rather than the spiritual] world — just
crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental
teachings of the universe, and disregarding [the teachings
of] Christ, the Messiah.
9 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the God-
4 Souter’s ‘‘Pocket Lexicon to the New Testament.”
COLOSSIANS 2 759
head), continues to dwell in bodily form — giving com-
plete expression of the divine nature.
10 And you ‘are in Him, made full and have come
to fullness of life—in Christ you too are filled with
the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and reach
full spiritual stature. And He is the Head of all rule
and authority — of every angelic principality and power.
11 In Him also you were circumcised with a circum-
cision not made with hands, but in a [spiritual] circum-
cision [performed by] Christ by stripping off the body
of the Aesh [the whole corrupt, carnal nature with its
passions and lusts].
12 [Thus tyou were circumcised when] you were
buried with Him in [your] baptism, in which you were
also raised with [Him *to a new life] through [your]
faith in the working of God [345 displayed when He]
raised Him up from the dead.
13. And you, who were dead in trespasses and in
the uncircumcision of your flesh — your sensuality, your
sinful carnal nature — [God] brought to life together
with [Christ], having Cfreely) forgiven us all our trans-
gressions;
14 Having cancelled and blottcd out and wiped
away the handwriting of the note Cor bond) with its
legal decrees and demands, which was in force and stood
against us — hostile to us. “This [note with its regula-
tions, decrees and demands] He set aside and cleared
‘completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross.
15 [God] disarmed the principalities and powers
© Vincent’s “Word Studies in the New Testament.”
“The aorist tense puts the burial as contemporaneous with the circum-
cision”? (Vincent).
760 COLOSSIANS 2
ranged against us and made a bold display and public
example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and
in it [the cross].
16 Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in
matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day
or a new moon or a Sabbath.
17 Such [things] are only the shadow of things that
are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But
the reality — the substance, the solid fact of what is fore-
shadowed, the body of it — belongs to Christ.
18 Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire
and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for
the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of
angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has
seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and in-
flated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit,
19 And not holding fast to the Head, from Whom
the entire body, supplied and knit together by means of
its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is
from God.
20 If then you have died with Christ to material
ways of looking at things and have escaped from the
world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of
externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the
world? — Why do you submit to rules and regulations?
[such as],
21 Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do
not even touch [them],
22 Referring to things all of which perish with being
4 Alternate reading, “in it [the cross].”
COLOSSIANS 3 761
used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doc-
trines. [Is. 29:13.]
23 Such [practices] have indeed the outward appear-
ance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting
self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-
humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but
they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the
flesh — the lower nature. [Instead, they do not honor
God] but serve only to indulge the flesh.
CHAPTER 3
F then you have been raised with Christ [to a new
life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead],
aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are
above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
[Ps. 110:1.]
2 And set your minds and keep them set on what
is above —the higher things— not on the things that
are on the earth.
3 For [as far as this world is concerned] you have
died, and your [new, real] life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ Who is our life appears, then you
also will appear with Him in (the splendor of His) glory.
5 So kill Cdeaden, ‘deprive of power) the evil desire
lurking in your members — those animal impulses and
all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin: sexual
vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and
all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry [the deify-
ing of self and other created things instead of God].
6 It is on account of these [very sins] that the [holy]
b Alternate reading. ¢ Thayer.
762 COLOSSIANS 3
anger of God is ever coming upon (those who are ob-
stinately opposed to the divine will) the sons of dis-
obedience,
7 Among whom you also once walked, when you
were living in and addicted to [such practices].
8 But now put away and rid yourselves [completely]
of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward
others, curses and slander and foulmouthed abuse and
shameful utterances from your lips!
9 Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped
off the old Cunregenerate) self with its evil practices,
10 And have clothed yourselves with the new
[spiritual self], which is Cever in the process of being)
renewed and remoulded into (fuller and more perfect
‘knowledge upon) knowledge, after the image Cthe like-
ness.) of Him Who created it. [Gen. 1:26.]
11 [In this new creation all distinctions vanish];
there ‘is no room for and there can be neither Greek nor
Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, [nor difference be-
tween nations whether alien] barbarians or Scythians
[*who are the most savage of all], nor slave or free man;
but Christ is all and in all —‘everything and every-
where, to all men, without distinction of person.
12 Clothe yourselves therefore, as (God’s own picked
representatives, ) His own chosen ones, [who are] puri-
fied and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by
putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and
mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle
ways, [and] patience — which is tireless, long-suffering
¢ Literal translation. @ Vincent. e Gray and Adams’ Commentary.
COLOSSIANS 3 763
and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good
temper.
13 Be gentle and forbearing with one another and,
if one has a difference (a grievance or compljaint,) against
another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord
has freely forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].
14 And above all these [put on] love and enfold
yourselves with the bond of perfectness — which binds
everything together completely in ideal harmony.
159 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes)
from the Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in
your hearts — deciding and settling with finality all ques-
tions that arise in your minds — [in that peaceful state]
to which [as members of Christ’s] one body you were
also called [to live]. And be thankful — appreciative,
giving praise to God always.
16 Let the word [spoken by] the Christ, the Mes-
siah, have its home Cin your hearts and minds) and dwell
in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish
and train one another in all insight and intelligence and
wisdom [in spiritual things, and sing] psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His]
grace in your hearts.
17 And whatever you do— no matter what it is — in
word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord
Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving
praise to God the Father through Him.
18 Wives, be subject to your husbands — subordinate
and adapt yourselves to them — as is right and fitting and
your proper duty in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives — be affectionate and
764 COLOSSIANS 4
sympathetic with them — and do not be harsh or bitter
or resentful toward them.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for
this is well-pleasing to the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your
children — do not be hard on them or harass them; lest
they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel
inferior und frustrated; do not break their spirit.
22 Servants, obey in everything those who are your
earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you,
as pleasers of men, but in simplicity of purpose Cwith all
your heart.) because of your reverence for the Lord and
as a sincere expression of your devotion to Him.
23 Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily
(from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and
not for men,
24 Knowing Cwith all certainty) that it is from the
Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the in-
heritance which is your (Creal) reward. [The One
Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ, the
Messiah.
25 For he who deals wrongfully will [reap the fruit
of his folly and] be punished for his wrongdoing. And
[with God] there is no partiality [no matter what a per-
son’s position may be, whether he is the slave or the
master |.
CHAPTER 4
Ve [on your part] deal with your slaves
justly and fairly, knowing that also you have a
Master in heaven. [Lev. 25:43, 53.]
COLOSSIANS 4 765
2 Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your
prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your
praying} with thanksgiving.
3 And at the same time pray for us also, that God
mav open a door to us for the Word (the Gospel), to
proclaim the mystery concerning Christ, the Messiah,
on account of which I am in prison;
4 ‘That I may (speak boldly and unfold that mys-
tery,) proclaim it fully and make it clear, as is my duty.
5 Behave yourselves wisely — living prudently and
with discretion — in your relations with those of the out-
side world (the non-Christians), making the very most
of the time and seizing (buying up) the opportunity.
6 Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant
and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that
you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to
answer any one [who puts a question to you].
7 Tychicus will give you full information about my
affairs; [he 15] a much-loved brother and faithful minis-
tering assistant and fellow servant [with us] in the Lord.
8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that
you may know how we are faring and that he may com-
fort and cheer and encourage your hearts.
9 And with [him is] Onesimus, [our] faithful and
beloved brother, who is [one] of yourselves. ‘They will
Iet you know everything that has taken place here [in
Rome}.
10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner wishes to be re-
membered to you, as does Mark the relative of Barnabas.
You received instructions concerning him; if he comes
to you give him a (thearty.) welcome.
bh Williams: “A very strong verb, so give him a hearty welcome.”
766 COLOSSIANS 4
11] And [greetings also from] Jesus who is called
Justus. These [Hebrew Christians] alone of the circum-
cision are among my fellow workers for [the extension
of] God’s kingdom, and they have proved a relief and a
comfort to me.
12 Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a servant of
Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. [He is] always striv-
ing for you earnestly in his prayers, [pleading] that you
may — as persons of ripe character and clear conviction
— stand firm and mature Cin spiritual growth), convinced
and fully assured in ‘everything willed by God.
12 For I bear him testimony that he has labored hard
in your behalf and for [the believers] in Laodicea and
those in Hierapolis.
14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas salute you.
15 Give my greetings to the brethren at Laodicea,
and to Nympha and the assembly [the church] which
meets in her house.
16 And when this epistle has been read before you,
[see] that it is read also in the assembly [the church]
of the Laodiceans; and also [see] that you yourselves in
turn read the [letter that comes to you] from Laodicea.
17 And say to Archippus, See that you discharge
carefully [the duties of] the ministry and fulfill the
stewardship which you have received in the Lord.
18 I, Paul, [add this final] greeting, writing with my
own hand. Remember I am still in prison and in chains.
May grace (God’s unmerited favor and blessing) be
with you! Amen, so be it.
ι Vincent,
THE FIRST LETTER OF PAUL
TO THE
THESSALONIANS
CHAPTER 1
AUL, Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy to the assembly
Cchurch) of the Thessalonians in God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah: Grace (spiritual
blessing and divine favor) to you and heart peace.
2 We are ever giving thanks to God for al] of you,
continually mentioning [you when engaged] in our
prayers,
3 Recalling unceasingly before our God and Father
your work energized by faith and service motivated by
love, and unwavering hope in Cthe return of) our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Messiah. [1:10.]
4 [QO] brethren beloved by God, we recognize and
know that He has selected Cchosen) you;
5 For our [preaching of the] glad tidings (the Gos-
pel) came to you not only in word, but also in (115 own
inherent.) power and in the Holy Spirit, and with great
conviction and absolute certainty (on our part). You
know what kind of men we proved [ourselves] to be
among you for your good.
6 And you [set yourselves to] become imitators of us
and [through us] of the Lord Himself, for you welcomed
our message in [spite of the] much persecution, with
joy [inspired] of the Holv Spirit;
7 So that you [thus] became a pattern to all the be-
lievers — those who adhere to, trust in and rely on Christ
Jesus —in Macedonia and Achaia [most of Greece].
767
768 1 THESSALONIANS 2
8 For not only has the Word concerning and from
the Lord resounded forth from you unmistakably in
Macedonia and Achaia, but everywhere the report has
gone forth of your faith in God — of your *leaning of
your whole personality on Him in complete trust and
confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness. So we
[find that we] never need to tell people anything [fur-
ther about it].
9 For they themselves volunteer testimony concern-
ing us, telling what an entrance we had among you, and
how you turned to God from [your] idols to serve a
God Who is alive and true and genuine;
10 And [how you] look forward to and await the
coming of His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from
the dead, Jesus Who personally rescues and delivers us
out of and from the wrath (bringing punishment) which
is coming [upon the impenitent] and °draws us to Him-
self [that is, Sinvests us with all the privileges and re-
wards of the new life in Christ, the Messiah].
CHAPTER 2
OR you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming
among you was not useless and fruitless.
2 But though we had already suffered and been
outrageously treated at Philippi, as you know, yet in [the
strength of] our God we summoned courage to proclaim
to you unfalteringly the good news (the Gospel) with
earnest contention, much conflict and great opposition.
3 For our appeal [in preaching] does not [originate]
*Souter. bLiteral meaning of the verb ‘‘to deliver.” eVincent.
1 THESSALONIANS 2 769
from delusion or error or impure purpose or motive, nor
in fraud or deceit.
4 But just as we have been approved by God to be
entrusted with the glad tidings (the Gospel), so we speak
not to please men, but to please God, Who tests our
hearts (4expecting them to be approved).
5 For, as you well know, we never resorted either
to words of flattery or to any cloak to conceal greedy
motives or pretexts for gain, [as] God is our witness.
6 Nor did we seek to extract praise and honor and
glory from men, either from you or from anyone else,
though we might have asserted our authority (stood
on our dignity and claimed honor) as apostles (special
missionaries) of Christ, the Messiah.
7 But we behaved gently when we were among you,
like a devoted mother nursing and cherishing her own
children.
8 So, being thus tenderly and affectionately desirous
of you, we continued to share with you not only God’s
good news (the Gospel) but also our own lives as well,
for you had become so very dear to us.
9 For you recall our hard toil and struggles, brethren.
We worked night and day [and plied our trade] in
order not to be a burden to any of you [for our support]
while we proclaimed the glad tidings (the Gospel) of
God to you.
10 You are witnesses, [yes] and God [also], how un-
worldly and upright and blameless was our behavior
toward you believers — who adhered to and trusted in
and relied on our Lord Jesus Christ.
4Abbott-Smith.
770 1 THESSALONIANS 2
11 For you know how, like a father [dealing with]
his children, we used to exhort each of you personally,
stimulating and encouraging and charging you
12 To live lives worthy of God, Who calls you into
His own kingdom and the glorious blessedness [‘into
which true believers will enter after Christ's return].
i3 And we also [especially] thank God continually
for this, that when you received the message of God
[which you heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the
word of [mere] men but as what it truly is, the Word
of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe
— fexercising its [superhuman] power in those who ad-
here to and trust in and rely on it.
14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the assem-
blies Cchurches) of God in Christ Jesus which are in
Judea, for you too have suffered the same kind of treat-
ment from your own fellow countrymen as they did
[who were persecuted at the hands] of the Jews,
15 Who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets,
and harassed and drove us out; and continue to make
themselves hateful and offensive to God and to show
themselves foes of all men,
16 Forbidding and hindering us from speaking to the
Gentiles [the nations] that they may be saved. So as
always they fll up (to the brim the measure of) their
sins. But God’s wrath has come upon them at last —
completely and forever! [Gen. 15:16.]
17 But since we were bereft of you, brethren, for
a little while in person, [of course] not in heart, we
*Thayer. tVincent.
1 THESSALONIANS 3 77]
endeavored the more eagerly and with great longing to
see you face to face,
18 Because it was our will to come to you. [I mean
that] I, Paul, again and again [wanted to come], but
Satan hindered and impeded us.
19 For what is our hope or happiness or our victor’s
wreath of exultant triumph when we stand in the
presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Are not you?
20 For you are [indeed] our glory and our joy!
CHAPTER 3
HEREFORE when [the suspense of separation and
our yearning for some personal communication from
you] became intolerable, we consented to being left be
hind alone at Athens.
2 And we sent Timothy, our brother and God's
servant in [spreading] the good news (the Gospel) of
Christ, to strengthen and establish, exhort and comfort
and encourage you in your faith,
3. That no one [of you] should be disturbed and be-
guiled and led astray by these afflictions and difficulties
[to which I have referred]. For you yourselves know
that this is [unavoidable in our position, and must be
recognized as] our appointed lot.
4 For even when we were with you [you know] we
warned you plainly beforehand that we were to be
pressed with difficulties and made to suffer affliction,
just as to your own knowledge has [since] happened.
5 That is the reason that, when I could bear [the
suspense] no longer, | sent that I might learn [how you
were standing the strain, and the endurance of] your
772 1 THESSALONIANS 3
faith, [for I was fearful] lest somehow the tempter had
tempted you and our toil [among you should prove to]
be fruitless and to no purpose.
6 But now that Timothy has just come back to us
from [his visit to] you, and has brought us the good
news of [the steadfastness of] your faith and [the
warmth of your] love, and [reported] how kindly you
cherish a constant and affectionate remembrance of us,
[and that you are] longing to see us as we [are to see]
you,
7 Brethren, for this reason, in [spite of all] our stress
and crushing difficulties we have been filled with com-
fort and cheer about you [because of] your faith — &the
leaning of your whole personality on God in complete
trust and confidence.
8 Because now we [really] live, if you stand [frm]
in the Lord.
9 For what [adequate] thanksgiving can we render
to God for you, for all the gladness and delight which
we enjoy for your sakes before our God?
10 [And we] continue to pray especially and with
most intense earnestness night and day that we may see
you face to face and mend and make good whatever may
be imperfect and lacking in your faith.
11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, guide our steps to you.
12 And may the Lord make you to increase and excel
and overflow in love for one another and for all people,
just as we also do for you.
13 So that He may strengthen and confirm and
sSouter.
1 THESSALONIANS 4 773
establish your hearts faultlessly pure and unblamable
in holiness in the sight of our God and Father, at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, with all
His saints—the "holy and glorifed people of God!
Amen, so be it!
: CHAPTER 4
ἴ. brethren, we beg and admonish
you in [virtue of our union with] the Lord Jesus,
that [you follow the instructions which] you learned
from us about how you ought to walk so as to please and
gratify God, as indeed you are doing; that you do so even
more and more abundantly — attaining yet greater per-
fection in living this life.
2 For you know what charges and precepts we gave
you ['on the authority and by the inspiration of] the
Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, that you should be
consecrated — separated and set apart for pure and holy
living: that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual
vice;
4 That each one of you should know how to possess
[control, manage] his own ‘body Cin purity, separated
from things profane, and) in consecration and honor,
5 Not [to be used] in the passion of lust, like the
heathen who are ignorant of the true God and have no
knowledge of His will,
6 That no man transgress, and overreach his brother
and defraud him in this matter or ‘defraud his brother
Vincent. ὀ !Abbott-Smith. JASV and others.
*Mouliton and Milligan: “ ‘body’ rather than ‘wife’.’”’ Allowed by lexicons
generally. Supported by Knox, Phillips, Way, etc. Early versions say
“vessel.” 1 Alternate reading.
774 1 THESSALONIANS 4
in business. For the Lord is an avenger in all these
things, as we have already warned you solemnly and*told
you plainly.
7 For God has not called us to impurity, but to
consecration [to dedicate ourselves to the most thorough
purity |.
8 Therefore whoever disregards — sets aside and re-
jects this — disregards not man but God, Whose [very]
Spirit [Whom] He gives to you [is] holy — chaste, pure.
9 But concerning brotherly love [for all other Chris-
tians], you have no need to have any one write you, for
you yourselves have been (personally) taught of God to
love one another.
10 And indeed you already are [extending and dis-
playing your love] to all the brethren throughout Mace-
donia. But we beseech and earnestly exhort you, breth-
ren, that you "excel [in this matter] more and more;
11 ‘To make it your ambition and definitely endeavor
to live quietly and peacefully, to mind your own affairs,
and to work with your hands, as we charged you;
12 So that you may bear yourselves becomingly, be
correct and honorable and command the respect of the
outside world, being (self-supporting,) dependent on no-
body and having need of nothing.
13. Now also we would not have you ignorant,
brethren, about those who fall asleep [in death], that
you may not grieve [for them], as the rest do who have
no hope [beyond the grave].
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose
® Abbott-Smith.
1 THESSALONIANS 5 775
again, even so God will also bring with Him through
Jesus those who have fallen asleep [in death].
15 For this we declare to you by the Lord’s [own]
word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming
of the Lord, shall in no way precede [into His presence]
or have any advantage at all over those who have previ-
ously fallen asleep [in Him in death].
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven
with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an arch-
angel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And
those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we, the still living who remain [on the
earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with
(the resurrected dead) in the clouds to meet the Lord in
the air; and so always—through the eternity of the
eternities — we shall be with the Lord!
18 Therefore comfort and encourage one another
with these words.
CHAPTER 5
UT as to the suitable times and the precise seasons
and dates, brethren, you have no necessity for
anything being written to you.
2 For you yourselves know perfectly well that the
day of the Lord[’s return] will come [as unexpectedly
and suddenly] as a thief in the night.
3 When people are saying, All is well and secure,
and, There is peace and safety, then in a moment un-
foreseen destruction (ruin and death) will come upon
them as suddenly as labor pains come upon a woman
>hCremer,
776 1 THESSALONIANS 5
with child; and they shall by no means escape, for there
will be no escape.
4 But you are not in [given up to the power of] dark-
ness, brethren, for that day to overtake you by surprise
like a thief.
5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day;
we do not belong either to the night or to darkness.
6 Accordingly then, let us not sleep, as the rest do,
but let us keep wide awake (alert, watchful, cautious
and on our guard) and let us be sober (calm, collected
and circumspect).
7 For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who
are drunk get drunk at night.
8 But we belong to the day, therefore let us be
sober, and put on the breastplate Ccorslet.) of faith and
love and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not appointed us to [incur His] wrath
— He did not select us to condemn us — but [that we
might] obtain [His] salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Messiah,
10 Who died for us so that whether we are still
alive or are dead [at Christ’s appearing] we might live
together with Him and share His life.
11] ‘Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one an-
other and edify — strengthen and build up — one another,
just as you are doing.
12 Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know
those who labor among you — recognize them for what
they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them
all — your leaders who are over you in the Lord, and
those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you.
1 THESSALONIANS 5 777
13. And hold them in very high and most affection-
ate esteem in [intelligent and sympathetic] appreciation
of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 And we earnestly beseech you, brethren, admon-
ish Cwarn and seriously advise) those who are out of
line —the loafers, the disorderly and the unruly; en-
courage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your
support to the weak souls [and] be very patient with
everybody — always keeping your temper. [[5. 35:4.]
15 See that none of you repays another with evil
for evil, but always aim to show kindness and seek to do
good to one another and to everybody.
16 Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-
hearted continually — always.
17 Be unceasing in prayer — praying perseveringly;
18 Thank [God] in everything — no matter what the
circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks;
for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ
Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
19 Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the CHoly)
Spirit.
20 Do not spurn the gifts and utterances of the
prophets — do not depreciate prophetic revelations nor
despise inspired instruction or exhortation or warning.
21 But test and prove all things [until you can recog-
nize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.
22 Abstain from evil — shrink from it and keep aloof
from it — in whatever form or whatever kind it may be.
23 And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you
through and through — that is, separate you from profane
things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God —
778 1 THESSALONIANS 5
and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved
sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
24 Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself]
and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [that is,
fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you].
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a sacred kiss.
27 I solemnly charge you [in the name of] the Lord
to have this letter read before all the brethren.
28 The grace (the unmerited favor and blessings)
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, be with you all.
Amen, so be it.
THE SECOND LETTER OF PAUL
TO THE
THESSALONIANS
CHAPTER 1
AUL, Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy to the church
Cassembly) of the Thessalonians in God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed
One:
2 Grace Cunmerited favor) be to you and heart peace
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, the
Messiah, the Anointed One.
3 We ought and indeed are obligated [as those in
debt] to give thanks always to God for you, brethren,
as is fitting, because your faith is growing exceedingly,
and the love of every one of you each toward the others
is increasing and abounds.
4 And this is a cause of our mentioning you with
pride among the churches (assemblies) of God for your
steadfastness — your unflinching endurance and patience
—and your firm faith in the midst of all the persecutions
and crushing distresses and afflictions under which you
are holding up.
5 This is positive proof of the just and right judg-
ment of God to the end that you may be deemed deserv-
ing of His kingdom —a plain token of His fair verdict
[which designs] that you should be made and counted
worthy of the kingdom of God — for the sake of which
you are also suffering.
6 [It is a fair decision] since it is a righteous thing
779
780 2 THESSALONIANS 1
with God to repay with distress and affliction those who
distress and afflict you,
7 And to [recompense] you who are so distressed and
afflicted [by granting you] relief and rest along with us —
your fellow sufferers — when the Lord Jesus is revealed
from heaven with His mighty angels in a flame of fire;
8 To deal out retribution —chastisement and ven-
geance — upon those who do not know or perceive or be-
come acquainted with God, and [upon those] who ignore
and refuse to obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 Such people will pay the penalty and suffer the
punishment of everlasting ruin (destruction and perdi-
tion) and [eternal exclusion and banishment] from the
presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 When He comes to be glorified in His saints.
CThat is, on that day He will be made more glorious in
His consecrated people) and [He will] be marveled at
and admired [in His glory reflected] in all who have be-
lieved — who have adhered to, trusted in and relied on
Him — because our witnessing among you was confident-
ly accepted and believed [and confirmed in your lives].
11 With this in view we constantly pray for you,
that our God may deem and count you worthy of [your]
calling and [His] every gracious purpose of goodness,
and with power complete in every particular [your]
work of faith [faith which is that "leaning of the whole
human personality on God in absolute trust and conf-
dence in His power, wisdom and goodness].
12 Thus may the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
“Jamieson, Fausset and Brown.
bSouter’s ‘Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament.”’
2 THESSALONIANS 2 781
be glorified and become more glorious through and in
you, and may you [also be glorified] in Him according
to the grace (favor and blessing) of our God and the
Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One.
CHAPTER 2
UT relative to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Messiah, and our gathering together to [meet]
Him, we beg you, brethren,
2 Not to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled
or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed, whether it be by
some [pretended] revelation of [the] Spirit or by word
or by letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the
day of the Lord has [already] arrived and is here.
3 Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for
that day will not come except the ‘apostasy comes frst —
that is, unless the [predicted] great ‘falling away of those
who have professed to be Christians has come — and the
man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of
doom (of perdition), [1 Tim. 4:1; Dan. 7:25; 8:25.]
4 Who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and
insolently against and over all that is called God or that
is worshiped, [even to his actually] taking his seat in
the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God.
[Dan. 11:36, 37; Ezek. 28:2.]
5 Do you not recollect that when I was still with
you I told you these things?
6 And now you know what is restraining him [from
being revealed at this time]; it is so that he may be mani-
fested (revealed) in his own [appointed] time.
¢ A possible rendering of apostasia is ‘departure [of the church].”
782 2 THESSALONIANS 2
7 For the mystery of lawlessness — that hidden prin-
ciple of rebellion against constituted authority — is already
at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until
*he who restrains is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one (the Antichrist) will
be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the
breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His
appearing at His coming. [Is. 11:4.]
9 The coming [of the lawless one, the Antichrist]
is through the activity and working of Satan, and will
be attended by great power and with all sorts of [pre-
tended] miracles and signs and delusive marvels — [all
of them] lying wonders —
10 And by unlimited seduction to evil and with all
wicked deception for those who are (going to perdition, )
perishing because they did not welcome the Truth but
refused to love it that they might be saved.
11 ‘Therefore God sends upon them a misleading in-
fluence, a working of error and a strong delusion to
make them believe what is false,
}2 In order that all may be judged and condemned
who did not believe — who refused to adhere to, trust in
and rely on — the Truth, but [instead] took pleasure in
unrighteousness.
13 But we, brethren beloved by the Lord, ought and
are obligated [as those who are in debt] to give thanks
always to God for you, because God chose you from
the beginning [*to be the first converts] for salvation
“Many believe this one who restrains the Antichrist to be the Holy
Spirit, Who lives in all believers and will be removed with them at
Christ’s coming. A majority think it refers to the Roman Empire.
bMany ancient authorities so read.
2 THESSALONIANS 3 783
through the sanctifying work of the CHoly) Spirit and
[your] belief in — adherence to, trust in and reliance
on —the Truth.
14 {It was] to this end that He called you through
our Gospel, so that you may obtain and share in the
glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold fast
to the traditions and instructions which you were taught
by us, whether by our word of mouth or by letter.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and
God our Father, Who loved us and gave us everlasting
consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope
through [His] grace Cunmerited favor),
17 Comfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen
them — make them steadfast and keep them unswerving
--in every good work and word.
CHAPTER 3
LC τὸς brethren, do pray for us, that
the Word of the Lord may speed on (spread rapidly
and run its course) and be glorified Cextolled) and tri-
umph, even as [it has done] with you.
2 And that we may be delivered from perverse
Cimproper, unrighteous) and wicked (actively malicious)
men, for not everybody has faith and is held by it.
3 Yet the Lord is faithful and He will strengthen
[vou] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you
from the evil [one].
4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning
you, that you are doing and will continue to do the
things which we suggest and with which we charge you.
784 2 THESSALONIANS 3
5 May the Lord direct your hearts into [realizing and
showing] the love of God, and into the steadfastness and.
patience of Christ in ‘waiting for His return.
6 Now we charge you, brethren, in the name and’
on the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah,
that you withdraw and keep away from every brother
(fellow believer) who is slack in the performance of duty
and is disorderly, living as a shirker and not walking in
accord with the traditions and instructions that you have
received from us.
7 For you yourselves know how it is necessary to
imitate our example, for we were not disorderly or shirk-
ing of duty when we were with you — we were not idle.
8 Nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying
for it, but with toil and struggle we worked night and
day, that we might not be a burden or impose on any
of you [for our support].
9 [It was] not because we do not have a right [to
such support], but [we wished] to make ourselves an
example for you to follow.
10 For while we were yet with you we gave you
this rule and charge: If anyone will not work, neither
let him eat.
11 Indeed, we hear that some among you are dis-
orderly — that they are passing their lives in idleness,
neglectful of duty — being busy with other people’s affairs
instead of their own and doing no work.
12 Now we charge and exhort such persons [as
‘ministers in Him exhorting those] in the Lord Jesus
cAlternate translation. (Thayer. ) 4Jamieson, Fausset and Brown.
2 THESSALONIANS 3 785
Christ, the Messiah, that they work in quietness and
earn their own food and other necessities.
13 And as for you, brethren, do not be weary or
lose heart in doing right [but continue in well-doing
without weakening].
14 But if anyone [in the church] refuses to obey
what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and
do not associate with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but simply ad-
monish and warn him as [being still] a brother.
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you
His peace [the peace of His kingdom] at all times and
in all ways —under all circumstances and conditions,
whatever comes. The Lord [be] with you all.
17 J, Paul, write you this final greeting with my
own hand. This is the mark and sign [that it is not a
forgery] in every letter of mine. It is the way 1 write —
my handwriting and signature.
18 The grace (spiritual blessing and favor) of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, be with you all. Amen,
so be it.
THE FIRST LETTER OF PAUL
TO
TIMOTHY
CHAPTER 1
AUL, an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus
by appointment and command of God our Savior
and of Christ Jesus, the Messiah, our Hope,
2 To Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace,
(spiritual blessing and favor), mercy and heart peace [be
yours] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. As I urged you when I was on my way to Mace-
donia, stay on where you are at Ephesus in order that
you may warn avd admonish and charge certain in-
dividuals not to teach any different doctrine,
4 Nor to give importance to or occupy themselves
with legends Cfables, myths) and endless genealogies
which foster and promote useless speculations and ques-
tionings, rather than acceptance in faith of God’s ad-
ministration and the divine training that is in faith, [>in
that leaning of the entire human personality on God in
absolute trust and confidence];
5 Whereas the object and purpose of our instruction
and charge is love which springs from a pure heart and
a good (clear) conscience and sincere Cunfeigned) faith.
6 But certain individuals have missed the mark on
this very matter [and] have wandered away into vain
arguments and discussions and purposeless talk.
7 They are ambitious to be doctors of the Law —
teachers of the Mosaic ritual — but they have no under-
Ὁ Souter’s ‘““Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament.”
786
T TIMOTHY 1 787
standing either of the words and terms they use or of
the subjects about which they make [such] dogmatic as-
sertions.
8 Now we recognize and know that the Law is good,
if anyone uses it lawfully — for the purpose for which it
was designed;
9 Knowing and understanding this: that the Law
is not enacted for the righteous — the upright and just,
who are in right standing with God; but for the law-
less and unruly, for the ungodly and sinful, for the ir-
reverent and profane, for those who strike and beat
and [even] murder fathers and strike and beat and
[even] murder mothers; for manslayers,
10 [For] impure and immoral persons, those who
abuse themselves with men, kidnapers, liars, perjurers
and whatever else is opposed to wholesome teaching and
sound doctrine,
11 As laid down by the glorious Gospel of the
blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
12 I give thanks to Him Who has granted me (the
needed) strength and made me able [for this], Christ
Jesus our Lord, because He has judged and counted
me faithful and trustworthy, appointing me to [this
stewardship of] the ministry.
13 Though I formerly blasphemed and _ persecuted
and was shamefully and outrageously and aggressively
insulting [to Him], nevertheless 1 obtained mercy be-
cause I had acted out of ignorance in unbelief.
14 And the grace Cunmerited favor and blessing)
of our Lord [actually] flowed out superabundantly and
788 1 TIMOTHY 1
beyond measure for me, accompanied by faith and love
that are [to be realized] in Christ Jesus.
15 The saying is sure and true and worthy of full
and universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus, the Messiah,
came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am
foremost.
16 But I obtained mercy for the reason that in me,
as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might show
forth and display all His perfect long-suffering and pa-
tience for an example to [encourage] those who would
thereafter believe on Him for [the gaining of] eternal
life.
17 Now to the King of eternity, incorruptible and
immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory
forever and ever — to the ages of ages. Amen — so be it.
18 This charge and admonition I commit in trust
to you, Timothy, my son, *in accordance with prophetic
intimations which I formerly received concerning you,
that inspired and aided by them you may wage the
good warfare,
19 Keeping fast hold on faith [*that leaning of the
entire human personality on God in absolute trust and
confidence] and a good (clear) conscience. By rejecting
and thrusting from them [their conscience], some indi-
viduals have made shipwreck of their faith.
20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander,
whom I have delivered to Satan in order that they may
be disciplined [by punishment and learn] not to blas-
pheme.
®Vincent’s ‘‘Word Studies in the New Testament.”
bSouter’s ‘‘Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament,”
1 TIMOTHY 2 789
CHAPTER 2
ΕΠ of all, then, I admonish and urge that peti-
tions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be
offered on behalf of all men,
2 For kings and all who are in positions of authority
or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a
quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable
one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in
every way.
3 For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is]
pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior,
4 Who wishes all men to be saved and increasingly
to perceive and recognize and discern and know precise-
ly and correctly the [divine] Truth:
5 That there [is only] one God, and [only] one
mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
6 Who gave Himself a ransom for all [pcople, a
fact that was] attested to at the right and proper time.
7 And of this matter 1 was appointed a preacher
and an apostle (special messenger); I am speaking the
truth in Christ, I do not falsify [when I say this], a
teacher of the Gentiles in [the realm of} faith and truth.
8 I desire therefore that in every place men should
pray, without anger or quarreling or resentment or
doubt [in their minds], lifting up holy hands.
9 Also [I desire] that women should adorn them-
selves modestly and appropriately and sensibly in seemly
apparel, not with [elaborate] hair arrangement or gold or
pearls or expensive clothing,
10 But by doing good deeds — that is, deeds in them-
selves good, and for the good and advantage of those con-
790 1 TIMOTHY 3
tacted by them — as befits women who profess reveren-
tial fear for and devotion to God.
11 Let a woman learn in quietness in entire sub-
missiveness.
12 I allow no woman to teach or to have authority
over men; she is to remain in quietness and keep silence
[in religious assemblies].
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve; [Gen.
2:7, 21, 2211}
14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but [the]
woman who was deceived and deluded and fell into
transgression. [Gen. 3:1-6.]
15 Nevertheless (the sentence put upon women [of
pain in motherhood] does not hinder their [souls’] salva-
tion), and they will be saved [eternally] if they con-
tinue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control;
[saved indeed] *through the Child-bearing, that is, "by
the birth of the [divine] Child.
CHAPTER 3
HE saying is true and irrefutable: If any man
[eagerly] seeks the office of bishop (Csuperinten-
dent, overseer), he desires an excellent task (work).
2 Now a bishop (superintendent, overseer.) must
give no grounds for accusation but must be above re-
proach, the husband of one wife, circumspect and tem-
perate and self-controlled; [he must be] sensible and
well behaved and dignified and lead an orderly Cdis-
ciplined) life; [he must be] hospitable — showing love
® Vincent. Doddridge. Macknight. Clark. ASV margin, and others. Cf,
Gal. 4:4. b Alternate reading.
1 TIMOTHY 3 79)
for and being a friend to the believers, especially strangers
or foreigners — [and] be a capable and qualified teacher,
3 Not given to wine, not combative but gentle and
considerate, not quarrelsome but forbearing and peace-
able, and not a lover of money — insatiable for wealth
and ready to obtain it by questionable means.
4 He must rule his own household well, keeping his
children under control, with true dignity, commanding
their respect in every way and keeping them respectful.
5 For if a man does not know how to rule his own
household, how is he to take care of the church of God?
6 He must not be a new convert, or he may [develop
a beclouded and stupid state of mind] as the result of
pride, [be blinded by] conceit, and fall into the con-
demnation that the devil [once] did. [Is. 14:12-14.]
7 Furthermore he must have a good reputation and
be well thought of by those outside [the church], lest he
become involved in slander and incur reproach and fall
into the devil’s trap.
8 In like manner the deacons [must be] worthy of
respect, not shifty and double talkers but sincere in what
they say, not given to much wine, not greedy for base
gain — craving wealth and resorting to ignoble and dis-
honest methods of getting it.
9 ‘They must possess the mystic secret of the faith
[Christian truth as hidden from ungodly men,] with a
clear conscience.
10 And Jet them also be tried and investigated and
proved first; then, [if they turn out to be] above re-
proach, let them serve [as deacons].
792 1 TIMOTHY 4
11 *[The] women likewise must be worthy of respect
and serious, not gossipers, but temperate and self-control-
led, {thoroughly] trustworthy in all things.
12 Let deacons be the husbands of but one wife, and
let them manage [their] children and their own house-
holds well;
13 For those who perform well as deacons acquire
a good standing for themselves and also gain much con-
fidence and freedom and boldness in the faith which is
[founded on and centers] in Christ Jesus.
14 Although I hope to come to you before long, I
am writing these instructions to you so that,
15 If Iam detained, you may know how people ought
to conduct themselves in the household of God, which
is the church of the living God, the pillar and stay — the
prop and support — of the Truth.
16 And great and important and weighty, we con-
fess, is the hidden truth —the mystic secret — of godli-
ness. He »CGod) was made visible in human flesh,
justified and vindicated in the (Holy) Spirit, was seen
by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in
the world [and] taken up in glory.
CHAPTER 4
UT the CHoly) Spirit distinctly and expressly
declares that in latter times some will turn away
from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing
spirits and doctrines that demons teach
*Either their wives or the deaconesses, or both.
bSome authorities read ‘‘God.”’
1 TIMOTHY 4 793
2 Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars
whose consciences are seared (cauterized),
3 Who forbid people to marry and [teach them] to
abstain from [certain kinds of] foods which God created
to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe
and have (an increasingly clear) knowledge of the truth.
4 For everything God has created is good, and noth-
ing is to be thrown away or refused if it is received with
thanksgiving.
5 For it is hallowed and consecrated by the Word of
God and by prayer.
6 If you lay all these instructions before the brethren,
you will be a worthy steward and a good minister of
Christ Jesus, ever nourishing your own self on the
truths of the faith and of the good [Christian] instruc-
tion which you have closely followed.
7 But refuse and avoid irreverent legends — profane
and impure and godless fictions, mere grandmothers’
tales — and silly myths, and express your disapproval of
them. ‘Train yourself toward godliness (piety) — keep-
ing yourself spiritually fit.
8 For physical training is of some value — useful
for a little; but godliness [spiritual training] is useful and
of value in everything and in every way, for it holds
promise for the present life and also for the life which
is to come.
9 This saying is reliable and worthy of complete ac-
ceptance by everybody.
10 With a view to this we toil and strive, [yes] and
"suffer reproach, because we have [fixed our] hope on
«Alternate reading.
794 1 TIMOTHY 5
the living God, Who is the Savior (Preserver, Main-
tainer, Deliverer) of all men, especially of those who
believe — trust in, rely on and adhere to Him.
11 Continue to command these things and to teach
them.
12 Let no one despise or think less of you because of
your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the be-
lievers, in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in
purity.
13 Till I come, devote yourself to [public and
private] reading, to exhortation — preaching and _ per-
sonal appeals — and to teaching and instilling doctrine.
14 Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that
special inward endowment] which was directly imparted
to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when
the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination].
15 Practise and cultivate and meditate upon these
duties, throw yourself wholly into them [your ministry],
so that your progress may be evident to everybody.
16 Look well to yourself (to your own personality)
and to [your] teaching; persevere in these things — hold
to them; for by so doing you will save both yourself and
those who hear you.
CHAPTER 5
Ο not sharply censure or rebuke an older man,
but entreat and plead with him as [you would
with] a father; treat younger men like brothers.
2 [Treat] older women like mothers [and] younger
women like sisters, in all purity.
1 TIMOTHY 5 795
3. [Always] treat with great consideration and give aid
to those who are truly widowed — solitary and without
support.
4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, see
to it that these are first made to understand that it is
their religious duty Cto defray their natural obligation
to those) at home, and make return to their parents or
grandparents [for all their care by contributing to their
maintenance], for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
5 Now [a woman] who is a real widow, and is left
entirely alone and desolate, has fixed her hope on God
and perseveres in supplications and prayers night and
day;
6 Whereas she who lives in pleasure and self-grati-
fication — giving herself up to luxury and self-indulgence
—is dead even while she [still] lives.
7 Charge [the people] thus, so that they may be
without reproach and blameless.
8 If anyone fails to provide for his relatives, and
especially for those of his own family, he has disowned
the faith [by failing to accompany it with fruits], and
is worse than an unbeliever [who performs his obliga-
tion in these matters].
9 Let no one be put on the roll of widows [who are
to receive church support] who is under sixty years of
age, or who has been the wife of more than one man;
10 And she must have a reputation for good deeds,
as one who has brought up children, who has practised
hospitality to strangers [of the brotherhood], washed
796 1 TIMOTHY 5
the feet of the saints, helped to relieve the distressed,
[and] devoted herself diligently to doing good in every
way.
11 But refuse [to enroll on this list the] younger
widows, for when they become restive and their natural
desires grow strong, they withdraw themselves against
Christ [and] wish to marry [again].
12 And so they incur condemnation for having set
aside and slighted their previous pledge.
13 Moreover, as they go about from house to house
they learn to be idlers, and not only idlers but gossips
and busybodies, saying what they should not say and
talking of things they should not mention.
14 So I would have younger [widows] marry, bear
children, guide the household, [and] not give opponents
of the faith occasion for slander or reproach.
159. For already some [widows] have turned aside
after Satan.
16 If any believing ®*man or woman has [relatives or
persons in the household who are] widows, let him
relieve them; let the church not be burdened [with
them]; so that it may [be free to] assist those who are
truly widows —those who are all alone and are de-
pendent.
17 Let the elders who perform the duties of their
office well be considered doubly worthy of honor [and of
adequate financial support], especially those who labor
faithfully in preaching and teaching.
“Some ancient authorities so read. bVincent,
1 TIMOTHY 5 797
18 For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle an
ox when it is treading out the grain, and again, The
laborer is worthy of his hire. [Deut. 25:4.]
19 Listen to no accusation preferred [before a judge]
against an elder except it be confirmed by the testimony
of two or three witnesses. [Deut. 19:15.]
20 As for those who are guilty and persist in sin,
rebuke avd admonish them in the presence of all, so
that the rest may be warned and stand in wholesome
awe and fear.
21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God
and of Christ Jesus and of the chosen angels, that you
guard and keep [these rules] without personal prejudice
or favor, doing nothing from partiality.
22 Do not be in a hurry in the laying on of hands —
giving the sanction of the church too hastily [in reinstat-
ing expelled offenders or in ordination in questionable
cases] — nor share or participate in another man’s sins;
keep yourself pure.
23 Drink water no longer exclusively, but use a
little wine for the sake of your stomach and your fre-
guent illnesses.
24 ‘The sins of some men are conspicuous — openly
evident to all eyes — going before them to the judgment
[seat] and proclaiming their sentence in advance; but the
sins of others appear later — following the offender to
the bar of judgment and coming into view there.
25 So also good deeds are evident and conspicuous,
and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden
[indefinitely].
798 1 TIMOTHY 6
CHAPTER 6
ET all who are under the yoke as bond servant:
esteem their own [personal] masters worthy οἱ'
honor and fullest respect, so that the name of God and
the teaching may not be brought into disrepute and
blasphemed.
2 Let those who have believing masters not be
disrespectful or scornful [to them] on the grounds that’
they are brothers [in Christ]; rather, they should serve.
[them all the better] because those who benefit by their
kindly service are believers and beloved. Teach and
urge these duties.
3 But if any one teaches otherwise and does not
lassent to the sound and wholesome messages of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and the teaching which
is in agreement with godliness — piety toward God —
4 He is puffed up with pride and stupehed with
conceit, [although he is] woefully ignorant. He has a
™morbid fondness for controversy and disputes and strife
about words, which result in Cproducing) envy and
jealousy, quarrels and dissension, abuse and insults and
slander, and base suspicions,
5 And protracted wrangling and wearing discussion
and perpetual friction among men who are corrupted in
mind and bereft of the truth, who imagine that godliness
or righteousness is a 'source of profit —a money-making
business, a means of livelihood. From such withdraw.
6 [And it is, indeed, a source of immense proht, for]
godliness accompanied with contentment — that content-
! Vincent. m Thayer.
1 TIMOTHY 6 799
nent which is a sense of “inward sufficiency — is great
and abundant gain.
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and ob-
viously we cannot take anything out of the world;
8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we
shall be content (satished).
9 But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation
and a snare, and into many foolish (useless, godless)
and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and
destruction and miserable perishing.
10 For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is
through this craving that some have been led astray,
and have wandered from the faith and pierced them-
selves through with many "acute [mental] pangs.
11 But as for you, Ὁ man of God, flee from all
these things; aim at and pursue righteousness — that is,
right standing with God and true goodness; godliness
Cwhich is the loving fear of God and Christlikeness),
faith, love, steadfastness (patience) and gentleheartedness.
12 Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the
eternal life to which you were summoned, and con-
fessed the good confession [of faith] before many wit-
nesses.
13 In the presence of God Who preserves alive all
living things, and Christ Jesus Who in His testimony
before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,
14 I [solemnly] charge you to keep all His precepts
unsullied and flawless, irreproachable until the ap-
pearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Anointed One.
mV incent,. »>Souter.
800 1 TIMOTHY 6
15. Which will be shown forth in His own proper’
time by the blessed, only Sovereign, the King of kings
and the Lord of lords;
16 Who alone has immortality fin the sense of:
exemption from every kind of death] and lives in un-
approachable light, Whom no man has ever seen or
can see. Unto Him be honor and everlasting power
and dominion. Amen -— so be it.
17 As for the rich in this world, charge them not
to be proud and arrogant avd contemptuous of others,
nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches but on God,
Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything
for [our] enjoyment;
18 [Charge them] to do good, to be rich in good
works, to be liberal and generous-hearted, ready to share
[with others],
19 In this way laying up for themselves [the riches
that endure forever] a good foundation for the future,
so that they may grasp that which is life indeed.
20 O Timothy, guard and keep the deposit entrusted
[to you]! Turn away from the irreverent babble and
godless chatter, with the vain and empty and worldly
phrases, and the subtleties avd the contradictions in
what is falsely called knowledge and spiritual illumi-
nation.
21 [For] by making such profession some have erred
— missed the mark — as regards the faith. Grace (divine
favor and blessing) be with you all! Amen —so be it.
THE SECOND LETTER OF PAUL
TO
TIMOTHY
CHAPTER 1
Pp an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus
by the will of God according to the promise of life
that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, [my] beloved child: Grace (favor and
spiritual blessing), mercy and (heart) peace from God
the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!
3 I thank God Whom I worship with a pure con-
science, [in the spirit of] my fathers, when without
ceasing | remember you night and day in my prayers,
4 And when as I recall your tears, I yearn to see
you, that I may be filled with joy.
5 I am calling up memories of your sincere and
unqualified faith [the "leaning of your entire person-
ality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence
in His power, wisdom and goodness, a faith] that first
lived permanently in (the heart of) your grandmother
Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am [fully] per-
suaded, (dwells) in you also.
6 That is why I would remind you to stir up — re-
kindle the embers, fan the fame and keep burning — the
[gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you
by means of the laying on of my hands [®with those
of the elders at your ordination].
7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity — of
cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear —
aVincent. >bSouter,
801
802 2 TIMOTHY 1
but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and
of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-
control.
8 Do not blush or be ashamed then to testify to and
for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but
[cwith me] take your share of the suffering [to which the
preaching] of the Gospel [may expose you, and do it] in
the power of God.
9 [For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and
called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holi-
ness — that is, to a life of consecration, a vocation of
holiness; [He did it] not because of anything of merit
that we have done, but because of avd to further His
own purpose and grace Cunmerited favor) which was
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began — eternal
ages ago.
10 [It is that purpose and grace] which He now has
made known and has fully disclosed and made real [to
us] through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus
Who annulled death and made it of no effect, and
brought life and immortality —that is, immunity from
eternal death — to light through the Gospel.
11 For [the proclaiming of] this [Gospel], I was ap-
pointed a herald (preacher) and an apostle (special
messenger) and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 And this is why I am suffering as I do. Still I am
not ashamed, for I know —I perceive, have knowledge
of and am acquainted with Him — Whom I have be-
lieved Cadhered to and trusted in and relied on), and I
am [positively] persuaded that He is able to guard and
¢Vincent.
2 TIMOTHY 2 803
keep that which has been entrusted to me and which ‘I
have committed [to Him], until that day.
13 Hold fast and follow the pattern of wholesome
and sound teaching which you have heard from me, in
[all] the faith and love which are [for us] in Christ
Jesus.
14 Guard and keep [with the greatest care] the
precious and excellently adapted [Truth] which has been
entrusted [to you], by the [help of the] Holy Spirit
Who makes His home in us.
15 You already know that all who are in Asia turned
away and forsook me, Phygelus and Hermogenes among
them.
16 May the Lord grant [His] mercy to the family of
Onesiphorus, for he often showed me kindness and
ministered to my needs —comforting and reviving and
bracing me like fresh air! He was not ashamed of my
chains and imprisonment [for Christ’s sake].
17 No, rather when he reached Rome he searched
diligently and eagerly for me and found [me].
18 May the Lord grant to him that he may find
mercy from the Lord on that [great] day! And you
know how many things he did for me and what a help
he was at Ephesus better [than I can tell you].
CHAPTER 2
O you, my son, be strong — strengthened inwardly
—in the grace (spiritual blessing) that is [to be
found only] in Christ Jesus.
2 And the [instructions] which you have heard from
4Alternate reading.
804 2 TIMOTHY 2
me, along with many witnesses, transmit and entrust
Cas a deposit) to reliable and faithful men who will be
competent and qualified to teach others also.
3 Take [with me] your share of the hardships and
suffering [which you are called to endure] as a good
Cfhirst class) soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No soldier when in service gets entangled in the
enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and
please the one who enlisted him.
5 And if anyone enters competitive games, he is
not crowned unless he competes lawfully — fairly, accord-
ing to the rules laid down.
6 [It is] the hard-working farmer Cwho labors to
produce) who must be the first partaker of the fruits.
7 Think over these things I am saying — understand
them and grasp their application—for the Lord will
grant you full insight and understanding in everything.
8 Constantly keep in mind Jesus Christ, the Messiah,
[as] risen from the dead, [as the prophesied King] de-
scended from David, according to the good news (the
Gospel) that I preach. [Ps. 16:10.]
9 For that [Gospel] I am suffering affliction and
even wearing chains, like a criminal. But the Word
of God is not chained or imprisoned!
10 Therefore I [am ready to] persevere and stand my
ground with patience and endure everything for the sake
of the elect [God’s chosen], so that they too may obtain
[the] salvation which is in Christ Jesus with [the reward
of] eternal glory.
1] ‘The saying is worthy of confidence and sure: If
we have died with [Him], we shall also live with [Him].
2 TIMOTHY 2 805
12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.
If we deny and disown and reject [Him], He will also
deny and disown and reject us.
13 If we are faithless (do not believe and are untrue
to Him), He remains true [faithful to His Word and
His righteous character], for He cannot deny Himself.
14 Remind [the people] of these facts, and [solemn-
ly} charge them in the presence of the Lord to avoid
petty controversy over words, which does no good, but
upsets and undermines the faith of the hearers.
15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present
yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman
who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing
and accurately dividing — rightly handling and skilfully
teaching — the Word of Truth.
16 But avoid all empty Cvain, useless, idle) talk, for
it will lead people into more and moe ungodliness.
17 And their teaching [will devour; it] wil! eat its
way like cancer or spread like gangrene. So it is with
Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18 Who have missed the mark and swerved from
the truth by arguing that the resurrection has already
taken place. They are undermining the faith of some.
19 But the firm foundation [laid by] God stands, sure
and unshaken, bearing this seal Cinscription): The Lord
knows those who are His, and, Let every one who names
[himself by] the name of the Lord give up all iniquity
and stand aloof from it. [Num. 16:5; Is. 26:13.]
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of
gold and silver but also [utensils] of wood and earthen-
806 2 TIMOTHY 2
ware, and some for honorable and noble [use] and some
for menial and ignoble [use].
21 So whoever cleanses himself [from what is
ignoble and unclean] — who separates himself from con-
tact with contaminating and corrupting influences — will
[then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for
honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable
to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.
22 Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim
at and pursue righteousness — all that is virtuous and
good, right living, conformity to the will of God in
thought, word and deed. [And aim at and pursue] faith,
love, [and] peace — which is harmony and concord with
others —in fellowship with all [Christians], who call
upon the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But refuse — shut your mind against, have nothing
to do with — trifling Cill-informed, unedifying, stupid)
controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know
that they foster strife and breed quarrels,
24 And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrel-
some — fighting and contending. Instead he must be
kindly to every one and mild-tempered — preserving the
bond of peace; he must be a skilled and suitable teacher,
patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong.
25 He must correct his opponents with courtesy and
gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they
will repent and come to know the Truth — that is, that
they will perceive and recognize and become accurately
acquainted with and acknowledge it,
26 And that they may come to their senses [and]
2 TIMOTHY 3 807
escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held
captive by him, [henceforth] to do His [God's] will.
CHAPTER 3
UT understand this, that in the last days there
will set in perilous times of great stress and trouble
—hard to deal with and hard to bear.
2 For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-
centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate
(greedy) desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and con-
temptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous,
scoffers.), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and
profane.
3 [They will! be] without natural Chuman) affection
(callous and inhuman), relentless — admitting of no
truce or appeasement. [They will be] slanderers — false
accusers, trouble makers; intemperate and loose in
morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of
good.
4 [They will be] treacherous (betrayers), rash [and]
inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of
sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and
rather than lovers of God.
> For [although] they hold a form of piety (true
religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the
power of it—their conduct belies the genuineness of
their profession. Avoid [all] such people —turn away
from them.
6 For among them are those who worm their way
into homes and captivate silly and weak-natured and
spiritually dwarfed women, loaded down with [the bur-
808 2 TIMOTHY 3
den of their] sins, [and easily] swayed and led away by
various evil desires and seductive impulses.
7 [These weak women will listen to anybody who
will teach them]; they are forever inquiring and getting
information, but are never able to arrive at a recognition
and knowledge of the Truth.
8 Now just as Jannes and Jambres were hostile to
and resisted Moses, so these men also are hostile to and
oppose the Truth. They have depraved and distorted
minds, and are reprobate and counterfeit and to be
rejected as far as the faith is concerned. [Ex. 7:11.]
9 But they will not get very far, for their rash folly
will become obvious to everybody, as was that of those
[magicians mentioned].
10 Now you have closely observed and diligently
followed my teaching, conduct, purpose in life, faith,
patience, love, steadfastness,
11 Persecutions, sufferings, such as occurred to me
at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, persecutions I
endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Indeed all who delight in piety and are deter-
mined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus
will meet with persecution — that is, will be made to
suffer because of their religious stand.
13 But wicked men and impostors will go on from
bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and
being deceived and led astray themselves.
14 But as for you, continue to hold to the things
that you have learned and of which you are convinced,
knowing from whom you learned [them],
159. And how from your childhood you have had a
2 TIMOTHY 4 809
knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred writ-
ings which are able to instruct you and give you the
understanding for salvation which comes through faith
in Christ Jesus [that is, through the *leaning of the en-
tire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in ab-
solute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and
goodness |.
16 Every Scripture is God-breathed — given by His
inspiration —and profhtable for instruction, for reproof
and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline
in obedience, and for training in righteousness [that is,
in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought,
purpose and action],
17 So that the man of God may be complete and
proficient, well-ftted and thoroughly equipped for every
good work.
CHAPTER 4
CHARGE [you] in the presence of God and of
Christ Jesus Who is to judge the living and the dead,
and by Cin the light of) His coming and His kingdom:
2 Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of
urgency (stand by, be at hand and ready, whether the op-
portunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable, whether
it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it be welcome
or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show
people in what way their lives are wrong) and convince
them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and
encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible
in patience and teaching.
*Souter.
810 2 TIMOTHY 4
3 For the time is coming when [people] will not
tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but
having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratify-
ing], they will gather to themselves one teacher after
another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy
their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,
4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and
wander off into myths and man-made fictions.
5 As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept
and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an
evangelist; fully perform all the duties of your ministry.
6 For I am already about to be sacrificed — my life
is about to be poured out [as a drink offering]; the time
of my [spirit’s] release [from the body] is at hand and
I will soon go free.
7 I have fought the good (worthy, honorable and
noble) fight; I have finished the race; I have kept Cfirm-
ly held) the faith.
8 (As to what remains,) henceforth there is laid up
for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness — for being
right with God and doing right — which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me
on that [great] day; and not to me only but also to all
those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed
His appearing [His return].
9 Make every effort to come to me soon.
10 For Demas has deserted me for love of this
present world and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens
[has gone] to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him
with you, for he is very helpful to me for the ministry.
2 TIMOTHY 4 811
12 Tychicus 1 have sent to Ephesus.
139. [When] you come, bring the cloak that I left at
Troas with Carpus; also the books, especially the
parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great wrongs.
The Lord will pay him back for his actions.
15 Beware of him yourself, for he opposed and re-
sisted our message very strongly and exceedingly.
16 At my first trial no one acted in my defense (as
my advocate.) or took my part or [even] stood with me,
but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them!
17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me,
so that through me the (Gospel) message might be fully
proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was
delivered out of the jaws of the lion.
18 [And indeed] the Lord will certainly deliver
and *draw me to Himself from every assault of evil. He
will preserve and bring [me] safe unto His heavenly
kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen
— so be it.
19 Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, and to
the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus stayed on at Corinth, but Trophimus I
left ill at Miletus.
21 Do hasten and try your best to come to me before
winter. Eubulus wishes to be remembered to you, as do
Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren.
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Grace (God's favor and blessing) be with you. Amen.
Reimers meaning of the Greek: ‘‘draw to one’s self.’’ Thayer; Abbott-
mith.
THE LETTER OF PAUL
TO
TITUS
CHAPTER 1
Pp. a bond servant of God and an apostle (a special
messenger) of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, to stimu-
late and promote the faith of God’s chosen ones and
lead them on to accurate discernment and recognition
of and acquaintance with the Truth which belongs to
and harmonizes with and tends to godliness,
2 (Resting) in the hope of eternal life, [life] which
the ever-truthful God Who cannot deceive, promised
before the world or the ages of time began.
3. And [now] in His own appointed time He has
made manifest (made known) His Word and revealed
it as His message through the preaching entrusted to me
by command of God our Savior;
4 To Titus, my true child according to a common
(general) faith: Grace (favor and spiritual blessing)
and heart-peace from God the Father and the Lord Christ
Jesus our Savior.
5 For this reason I left you [behind] in Crete, that
you might set right what was defective and finish what
was left undone, and that you might appoint elders and
set them over the churches (assemblies) in every city
as I directed you.
6 [These elders should be] men who are of unques-
tionable integrity and are irreproachable, the husband
of [but] one wife, whose children are [well-trained and
812
TITUS 1 813
are| believers, not open to the accusation of being loose
in morals and conduct or unruly and disorderly.
7 For the bishop as an overseer and God’s steward
must be blameless; not self-willed or arrogant or pre-
sumptuous; he must not be quick-tempered or given to
drink or pugnacious (brawling, violent); he must not be
grasping and greedy for filthy lucre (financial gain);
8 But he must be hospitable — loving and a friend
to believers, especially to the strangers and foreigners.
[He must be] a lover of goodness — of good people and
good things; sober-minded (sensible, discreet); upright
and fair-minded, a devout man and religiously right, tem-
perate and keeping himself in hand.
9 He must hold fast to the sure and trustworthy
Word of God as he was taught it, so that he may be
able both to give stimulating instruction and enccurage-
ment in sound (wholesome) doctrine, and to refute and
convict those who contradict and oppose it — showing
the wayward their error.
i0 For there are many disorderly avd unruly men
who are idle (vain, empty) and misleading talkers and
self-deceivers, as well as deceiving others. [This is true]
especially of those [who have come over from Judaism]
of the circumcision party.
11 Their mouths must be stopped, for they are men-
tally distressing and subverting whole families by teach-
ing what they ought not to teach, for the purpose of
getting base advantage and disreputable gain.
12 One of their [very] number, a prophet of their
own, said, Cretans are always liars, hurtful beasts, idle
and \azy gluttons.
814 TITUS 2
13 And this account of them is [really] true. Be-
cause it is [true], rebuke them sharply — deal sternly,
[even] severely with them — so that they may be sound
in the faith and free from error,
14 [And may show their soundness by] ceasing to
give attention to Jewish myths and fables or to rules
[laid down] by [mere] men who reject and turn their
backs on the Truth.
15 To the pure [in heart and conscience] all things
are pure, but to the defiled and corrupt and unbeliev-
ing nothing is pure; their very mind and conscience
are defiled and polluted.
16 They profess to know God — to recognize, perceive
and be acquainted with Him — but deny and disown
and renounce Him by what they do; they are detestable
and loathsome, unbelieving and disobedient and dis-
loyal and rebellious, and [they are] unfit and worthless
for good work (deed or enterprise) of any kind.
CHAPTER 2
UT [as for} you, teach what is fitting and becoming
to sound (wholesome) doctrine — the character and
right living that identify true Christians.
2 Urge the older men to be temperate, venerable
(serious), sensible, self-controlled; sound in the faith,
in the love, and in the steadfastness and patience [of
Christ].
3 Bid the older women similarly to be reverent and
devout in their deportment, as becomes those engaged in
sacred service, not slanderers or slaves to drink. They are
TITUS 2 815
to give good counsel and be teachers of what is right and
noble,
4 So that they will wisely train the young women
to be sane and sober-minded — temperate, disciplined —
and to love [their] husbands and [their] children;
5 To be self-controlled, chaste, homemakers, good-
natured (kindhearted), adapting and _ subordinating
themselves to their husbands, that the word of God may
not be exposed to reproach — blasphemed or discredited.
6 Ina similar way urge the younger men to be self-
restrained and to behave prudently — taking life seriously.
7 And show your own self in all respects to be a
pattern avd a model of good deeds and works, teaching
what is unadulterated, showing gravity — [that is] hav-
ing the strictest regard for truth and purity of motive,
with dignity and seriousness.
8 And let your instruction be sound and fit and wise
and wholesome, vigorous and Pirrefutable and above cen-
sure, so that the opponent may be put to shame, finding
nothing discrediting or evil to say about us.
9 [Tell] bond servants to be submissive to their
masters, to be pleasing and give satisfaction in every
way. [Warn them] not to talk back or contradict,
10 Nor to steal by taking things of small value, but
to prove themselves truly loyal and entirely reliable and
faithful throughout, so that in everything they may be
an ornament and do credit to the teaching [which is
‘from and about] God our Savior.
“The Greek verb here for “train’’ means to make sane, sober-minded; ta
moderate, to discipline. (-Vincent.) bWay. ¢Greek, ‘‘of,”
816 TITUS 3
11 For the grace of God — His unmerited favor and
blessing — has come forward (appeared) for the deliver-
ance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.
12 It has trained us to reject and renounce all un-
godliness Cirreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires,
to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, de-
vout (spiritually-whole) lives in this present world,
13 Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the
realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appear-
ing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus, the
Messiah, the Anointed One,
14 Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might
redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and
purify for Himself a people — to be peculiarly His own
— [people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living
a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds.
[Ps. 130:8; Ezek. 37:23; Deut. 14:2.]
15 Tell [them all] these things. Urge (advise, en-
courage, warn) and rebuke with full authority. Let no
one despise or disregard or think little of you — conduct
yourself and your teaching so as to command respect.
CHAPTER 3
" people to be submissive to [their] magis-
trates and authorities, to be obedient, to be pre-
pared and willing to do any upright and honorable work;
2 To slander or abuse or speak evil of no one, to avoid
being contentious, to be forbearing — yielding, gentle
and conciliatory — and to show unqualified courtesy to-
ward everybody.
TITUS 3 817
3 For we also were once thoughtless and senseless,
obstinate and disobedient, deluded and misled; [we too
were once] slaves to all sorts of cravings and pleasures,
wasting our days in malice and jealousy and envy, hate-
ful Chated, detestable) and hating one another.
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of
God our Savior to man [as man] appeared,
5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteous-
ness that we had done, but because of His own pity and
mercy, by [the] cleansing (bath) of the new birth Cre-
generation) and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6 Which He poured out [so] richly upon us through
Jesus Christ our Savior.
7 [And He did it in order] that we might be justified
by His grace — by His favor, wholly undeserved, that is,
that we might be acknowledged and counted as con-
formed to the Divine will in purpose, thought and ac-
tion; and that we might become heirs of eternal life ac-
cording to [our] hope.
8 ‘This message is most trustworthy, and concerning
these things I want you to insist steadfastly, so that those
who have believed in (trusted, relied on.) God may be
careful to apply themselves to honorable occupations and
to doing good, for such things are [not only] excellent
and right [in themselves], but [they are] good and
probtable for the people.
9 But avoid stupid and foolish controversies and
genealogies and dissensions and wrangling about the
Law, for they are unprofitable and futile.
10 [As for] a man who is factious — a heretical sec-
818 TITUS 3
tarian and cause of divisions — after admonisbing him a
first and second time reject Chim from your fellowship
and have nothing more to do with him),
11 Well aware that such a person has utterly changed
—is perverted and corrupted; he goes on sinning
[though] he is convicted of guilt and self-condemned.
12 When I send Artemas or [perhaps] Tychicus to
you, lose no time but make every effort to come to me at
Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
13 Do your utmost to speed Zenas the lawyer and
Apollos on their way; see that they want for nothing.
14 And let our [own people really] learn to apply
themselves to good deeds — “to honest labor and honor-
able employment — so that they may be able to meet
necessary demands ‘whenever the occasion may require
and not be living idle and uncultivated and unfruitful
lives.
15 All who are with me wish to be remembered to
you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace
(CGod’s favor and blessing) be with you all. Amen,
so be it.
4Alternate reading. ©Vincent.
THE
LETTER OF PAUL
TO
PHILEMON
AUL, a prisoner [for the sake] of Christ Jesus, the
P Messiah, and our brother Timothy, to Philemon
our dearly loved sharer with us in our work,
2 And to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fel-
low soldier [in the Christian warfare], and to the church
Cassembly that meets) in your house:
3 Grace (spiritual blessing and favor) be to you
all and heart-peace from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
4 I give thanks to my God for you always when I
mention you in my prayers,
5 Because I continue to hear of your love and of
your loyal faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus
and [which you show] toward all the saints — God’s con-
secrated people.
6 [And I pray] that the participation in and sharing
of your faith may produce and promote full recog-
nition and appreciation and understanding and precise
knowledge of every good [thing] that [is] ours in [our
identification with] Christ Jesus — and unto [His glory].
7 For I have derived great joy and comfort and en-
couragement from your love, because the hearts of the
saints [who are your fellow Christians] have been
cheered and refreshed through you, [my] brother.
8 Therefore, though I have abundant boldness in
Christ to charge you to do what is fitting and required
and your duty to do,
819
820 PHILEMON
9 Yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you just
for what Iam: I, Paul, 8an ambassador [of Christ Jesus ]}
and an old man and now a prisoner for His sake also.
10 I appeal to you for my [own spiritual] child,
Onesimus [meaning profitable], whom I have begotten
[in the faith] while a captive in these chains.
11 Once he was unprofitable to you, but now he is.
indeed profitable to you as well as to me.
12 Jam sending him back to you in "his own person
Cand it is like sending) my very heart.
13 I would have chosen to keep him with me, in
order that he might minister to my needs in your stead
during my imprisonment for the Gospel’s sake.
14 But it has been my wish to do nothing about it
without first consulting you and getting your consent,
in order that your benevolence might not seem to be
the result of compulsion or of pressure but might be
voluntary [on your part].
15 Perhaps it was for this reason that he was
separated [from you] for a while, that you might have
him back as yours forever,
16 Not as a slave any longer but as [something]
more than a slave, as a brother [Christian], especially
dear to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh
[as a servant] and in the Lord [as a fellow believer].
17 If then you consider me a partner and a comrade
in fellowship, welcome and receive him as you would
[welcome and receive] me.
18 And if he has done you any wrong in any way,
or owes anything [to you], charge that to my account.
*Alternate reading. bVincent.
PHILEMON 821
19 J, Paul, write it with my own hand, I promise
to repay it [in full] — and that is to say nothing [of the
fact] that you owe me your very self!
20 Yes, brother, let me have some profit from you
in the Lord. Cheer and refresh my heart in Christ.
21 I write to you [perfectly] confident of your obedi-
ent compliance, knowing that you will do even more
than 1 ask,
22 At the same time prepare a guest room [in ex-
pectation of extending your hospitality to] me, for I am
hoping through your prayers to be granted [the gracious
privilege of coming] to you.
23 Greetings to you from Epaphras my fellow
prisoner here in [the cause of] Christ Jesus, the Messiah,
24 And [from] Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke,
my fellow workers.
25 The grace (blessing and favor) of the Lord Jesus
Christ, the Messiah, be with your spirit. Amen, so be it.
THE LETTER
TO THE
HEBREWS
CHAPTER 1
N many separate revelations — *each of which set forth
a portion of the Truth — and in different ways God
spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets.
2 [But] in ‘the last of these days He has spoken to us
in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and
lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom
He created the worlds ®and the reaches of space and the
ages of time— [that is], He made, produced, built,
operated and arranged them in order.
3. He is the sole expression of the glory of God — the
Light-being, the Pout-raying of the divine —and He is
the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature,
upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling
the universe by His mighty word of power. When He
had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of
sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand
of the divine Majesty on high,
4 [Taking a place and rank by which] He Himeelf
became as much superior to angels as the glorious Name
Ctitle) which He has inherited is different from and
more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did (God) ever say, You
are My Son, today I have begotten You [that is, estab-
lished You in an official Sonship relation, with kingly
® Vincent. b Literal translation. ¢ Alford's ‘‘Greek Testament.”
822
HEBREWS 1 823
dignity]? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He
will be to Me a Son? [Ps. 2:7; If Sam. 7:14.]
6 Moreover, when He brings the first-born Son Pagain
into the habitable world, He says, Let all the angels of
God worship Him.
7 Referring to the angels He says, (God) Who makes
His angels ‘winds, and His ministering servants fames of
hre; [Ps. 104:4.]
8 But as to the Son, He says to Him, Your throne,
O God, is forever and ever (to the ages of the ages), and
the scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of absolute
righteousness — of justice and straightforwardness.
9 You have loved righteousness — You have delighted
in integrity, virtue and uprightness in purpose, thought
and action —and You have hated lawlessness Cinjustice
and iniquity). Therefore God, [even] Your God (4God-
head), has anointed You with the oil of exultant joy and
gladness above and beyond Your companions. [8 5.
45:6, 7.]
10 And [further], You, Lord, did lay the foundation
of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the
works of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain end continue
permanently; they will all grow old and wear out like a
garment.
12 Like a mantle [thrown about one’s self] You will
roll them up, and they will be changed and replaced
by others. But You remain the same and Your years
will never end nor come to failure. [Ps. 102:25-27.]
bAlford. Expositors. Vincent. Wuest’s ‘‘Hebrews."”” © Many authorities.
ἃ Way’s ‘“‘The Letters of Saint Paul and Hebrews.”
824 HEBREWS 2
13 Besides, to which of the angels has He ever said,
Sit at My right hand — associated with Me in My royal
dignity — till I make your enemies a stool for your
feet? [Ps. 110:1.]
14 Are not the angels all (servants) ministering
spirits, sent out in the service [of God for the assistance]
of those who are to inherit salvation?
CHAPTER 2
ae all this is true, we ought to pay much closer
attention than ever to the truths that we have heard,
lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away.
2 For if the message given through angels [that is,
the Law spoken by them to Moses]was authentic and
proved sure, and every violation and disobedience re-
ceived an appropriate (just and adequate) penalty,
3 How shall we escape [appropriate retribution]
if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to such a great
salvation [as is now offered to us, letting it drift past us
forever]? For it was declared at first by the Lord [Him-
self], and it was confirmed to us and proved to be real
and genuine by those who personally heard [Him speak].
4 [Besides these evidences] it was also established and
plainly endorsed by God, Who showed His approval of
it by signs and wonders and various miraculous manifes-
tations of [His] power and by imparting the gifts of the
Holy Spirit [to the believers] according to His own will.
5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the
habitable world of the future, of which we are speaking.
6 It has been solemnly and earnestly said in a cer-
tain place, What is man that You are mindful of him,
HEBREWS 2 825
or the son of man that You graciously and helpfully care
for and visit and look after him?
7 For some little time You have ranked him lower
than and inferior to the angels, You have crowned him
with glory and honor, and set him over the works of
Your hands, [Ps. 8:4-6.]
8 For You have put everything in subjection under
his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to
man, He left nothing outside [of man’s] control. But at
present we do not yet see all things subjected to him
[man].
9 But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked
lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with
glory and honor because of His having suffered death,
in order that by the grace Cunmerited favor) of God
[to us sinners] He might experience death for every
individual person.
10 For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to
the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom
all things have their existence, in bringing many sons
into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation
perfect [that is, should bring to maturity the human
experience necessary for a perfect equipment for His
ofhce as High Priest], through suffering.
11 For both He Who sanctifies — making men holy —
and those who are sanctified all have one [Father]. For
this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 For He says, I will declare Your [the Father’s]
name to My brethren; in the midst of the Cworshipping)
congregation I will sing hymns of praise to You. [Ps.
22:22.
826 HEBREWS 2
13 And again He says, My trust and assured reliance
and confident hope shall be fixed in Him. And yet
again, Here I am, 1 and the children whom God has
given Me. [ls. 8:17, 18.]
14 Since, therefore, [these His] children share in
flesh and blood — that is, in the physical nature of human
beings — He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of
the same [nature], that by [going through] death He
might bring to nought and make of no effect him who
had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And also that He might deliver and completely
set free all those who through the Chaunting) fear of
death were held in bondage throughout the whole course
of their lives.
16 For, as we all know, He CChrist) did not take
hold of angels [*the fallen angels] — to give them a help-
ing and delivering hand; but He did take hold of [*the
fallen] descendants of Abraham — to reach them a help-
ing and delivering hand. [Is. 41:8, 9.]
17 So it is evident that it was essential that He be
made like His brethren in every respect, in order that
He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful
High Priest in the things related to God, to make atone-
ment and propitiation for the people's sins.
18 For because He Himself [in His humanity] has
suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able
Cimmediately) *to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those
who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who
therefore are being exposed to suffering].
“Matthew Henry’s Commentary, and others. bWuest’s ‘‘Hebrews.”
HEBREWS 3 827
CHAPTER 3
O then, brethren, consecrated and set apart for God,
who share in the heavenly calling, thoughtfully and
attentively consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest
Whom we confessed as ours [when we embraced the
Christian faith].
2 [See how] faithful He was to Him Who appointed
Him [Apostle and High Priest], as Moses was also
faithful in the whole household [of God]. [Num. 12:7.]
3. Yet Jesus has been considered worthy of as much
greater honor and glory than Moses as the builder of a
house has more honor than the house [itself].
4 For, [of course,] every house is built avd furnished
by someone, but the Builder of all things and the Furn-
isher [of the entire equipment of all things] is God.
5 And Moses certainly was faithful in the administra-
tion of all God’s house, [but it was only] as a ministering
servant. [In his entire ministry he was but] a testimony
to the things which were to be spoken — the revelations
to be given afterward [in Christ]. [Num. 12:7.]
6 But Christ, the Messiah, was faithful over His
[own Father’s] house as a Son [and Master of it]. And
it is we who are [now members of] this house, if we hold
fast and firm to the end our joyful and exultant conh-
dence and sense of triumph in our hope [in Christ].
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, Today, if you
will hear His voice,
8 Do not harden your hearts, as [happened] in the
rebellion [of Israel] and their provocation aid *embitter-
ment [of Me] in the day of testing in the wilderness,
*® Souter,
828 HEBREWS 3
9 Where your fathers tried [My patience] and tested
[My forbearance] and "found I stood their test, and
they saw My works for forty years.
10 And so I was provoked (displeased and sorely
grieved) with that generation, and said, They always err
and are led astray in their hearts, and they have not
perceived or recognized My ways and become progressive-
ly better and more experimentally and intimately ac-
quainted with them.
11 Accordingly I swore in My wrath and indignation,
They shall not enter into My rest. [Ps. 95:7-11.]
12 [Therefore beware,] brethren; take care lest there
be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart —
which refuses to cleave to, trust in and rely on Him —
leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from
the living God.
13 But instead warn (admonish, urge and encourage)
one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that
none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by
the deceitfulness of sin — [that is,] by the fraudulence,
the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of
his sin may play on him.
14 For we chave become fellows with Christ, the
Messiah, and share in all He has for us, if only we hold
our first newborn confidence and original assured ex-
pectation [in virtue of which we are believers] firm and
unshaken to the end.
15 Then while it is [still] called Today, if you would
hear His voice, and when you hear it, do not harden
b Williams, ¢ Vincent.
HEBREWS 4 829
your hearts as in the rebellion [in the desert, when the
people provoked and irritated and embittered God against
them]. [Ps. 95:7, 8.]
16 For who were they that heard and yet were re-
bellious and provoked [Him]? Was it not all those who
came out of Egypt led by Moses?
17 And with whom was He irritated and provoked
and grieved for forty years? Was it not with those who
sinned, whose ‘dismembered bodies were strewn and left
in the desert?
18 And to whom did He swear that they should
not enter His rest, but to those who disobeyed — who
had not listened to His word, and who refused to be
compliant or be persuaded?
19 So we see that they were not able to enter [into
His rest] because of their unwillingness to adhere to and
trust and rely on God — unbelief had shut them out.
(Num. 14:1-35.]
CHAPTER 4
HEREFORE, while the promise of entering His rest
still holds and is offered [today], let us be afraid
[“to distrust it], lest any of you should 4think he has come
too late and has come short of [reaching] it.
2 For indeed we have had the glad tidings [of God]
proclaimed to us just as truly as they [the Israelites of
old did when the good news of deliverance from bond-
age came to them]; but the message they heard did not
benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith [that
is, with *the leaning of the entire personality on God in
4 Vincent. © Souter.
830 HEBREWS 4
absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and
goodness] by those who heard it; neither were they
funited in faith with [Joshua and Caleb] the ones who
heard [did believe].
3 For we who have believed — who have adhered to
and trusted and relied on God —do enter into that rest,
8in accordance with His declaration that those [who did
not believe] should not enter when He said, As I swore
in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest; and
this He said although [His] works had been completed
and prepared [and waiting for all who would believe]
from the foundation of the world. [Ps. 95:11.]
4 For in a certain place He has said this about the
seventh day: And God rested on the seventh day from
all His works. [Gen. 2:2.]
5 And [they forfeited their part in it, for] in this
[passage] He said, They shall not enter into My rest.
[Ps. 95:11.]
6 Seeing then that the promise remains over [from
past times] for some to enter that rest, and that those who
formerly were given the good news about it and the
opportunity, failed to appropriate it and did not enter
because of disobedience,
7 Again He sets a definite day, [a new] Today, [and
gives another opportunity of securing that rest], saying
through David after so long a time, in the words already
quoted, Today, if you would hear His voice, and when
you hear it, do not harden your hearts. [Ps. 95:7, 8.]
8 [This mention of a rest was not a reference to
their entering into Canaan], for if Joshua had given
f Many manuscripts so read. § Vincent.
HEBREWS 4 831
them rest, He (God) would not speak afterward about
another day.
9 So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete
Sabbath rest reserved for the [true] people of God;
10 For he who has once entered into [God’s] rest
also has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of human
labors, just as God rested from those labors “peculiarly
His own. [Gen. 2:2.]
11 Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves
and strive diligently to enter into that rest [of God] — to
know and experience it for ourselves — that no one may
fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedi-
ence [into which those in the wilderness fell].
12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full
of power — making it active, operative, energizing and
effective; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, pene-
trating to the dividing line of the breath of life Csoul)
and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [that
is, of the deepest parts of our nature] exposing and sift-
ing and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and
purposes of the heart.
13. And not a creature exists that is concealed from
His sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked
and defenseless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have
to do.
14 Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest
Who has [already] ascended and passed through the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our con-
fession [of faith in Him],
15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable
®Vincent’s ‘‘Word Studies in the New Testament.” bThayer,
832 HEBREWS 5
to understand and sympathize and have a fellow feeling
with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the
assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in
every respect as we are, yet without sinning.
16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly
draw near to the throne of grace — the throne of God's
unmerited favor [to us sinners]; that we may receive
mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good
time for every need — appropriate help and well-timed
help, coming just when we need it.
CHAPTER 5
OR every high priest chosen from among men is
appointed to act in behalf of men in things relating
to God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2 He is able to exercise gentleness and forbearance
toward the ignorant and erring, since he himself also
is liable to moral weakness and physical infirmity.
3 And because of this he is obliged to offer sacrifice
for his own sins as well as for those of the people.
4 Besides, one does not appropriate for himself the
honor [of being high priest], but he is called by God
and receives it of Him, just as Aaron did.
5 So too Christ, the Messiah, did not exalt Himself
to be made a high priest, but was appointed and exalted
by Him Who said to Him, You are My Son, today I have
begotten You; [Ps. 2:7.]
6 As He says also in another place, You are a Priest
[appointed] forever after the order (rank) of Melchize-
dek. [Ps. 110:4.]
7 In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite,
HEBREWS 5 833
special petitions [for that which He not only wanted >but
needed], and supplications, with strong crying and tears,
to Him Who was [always] able to save Him Cout) from
death, and He was heard because of His reverence to-
ward God — His godly fear, His piety [‘that is, in that
He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright
presence of the Father].
8 Although He was a Son, He learned [active,
special] obedience through what He suffered;
9 And [His completed experience] making Him per-
fect [in equipment], He became the Author and
Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and
obey Him, [[5. 45:17.]
10 Being ‘designated and recognized and saluted by
God as High Priest after the order [with ‘the rank] of
Melchizedek. [Ps. 110:4.]
11 Concerning this we have much to say which is
hard to explain, since you have become dull in your
[spiritual] hearing and sluggish, even slothful [in
achieving spiritual insight].
12 For even though by this time you ought to be
teaching others, you actually need some one to teach
you over again the very first principles of God's Word.
You have come to need milk, not solid food.
13 For every one who continues to feed on milk is
obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of
righteousness, [that is, of conformity to the divine will
in purpose, thought and action], for he is a mere infant
—not able to talk yet!
b Abbott-Smith.
¢ Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s ‘‘Commentary on the Old and New
Testaments.” 4 Souter, « Thayer.
834 HEBREWS 6
14 But solid food is for full-grown men, for those
whose senses and mental faculties are trained by prac-
tise to discriminate and distinguish between what is
morally good avd noble and what is evil and contrary
either to divine or human law.
CHAPTER 6
HEREFORE let us go on and get past the elemen-
tary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ,
the Messiah, advancing steadily toward the completeness
and perfection that belongs to spiritual maturity. Let us
not again be laying the foundation of repentance and
abandonment of dead works [dead formalism], and of
the faith [by which you turned] to God,
2, With teachings about purifying, the laying on of
hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judg-
ment and punishment. [These are all matters of which
you should have been fully aware long, long ago].
3 If indeed God permits we will [now] proceed [to
advanced teaching].
4 For it is impossible [to restore and bring again to
repentance] those who have been once for all enlighten-
ed, who have consciously tasted the heavenly gift, and
have become sharers of the Holy Spirit,
5S And have felt how good the Word of God is and
the mighty powers of the age and world to come,
6 If they then deviate from the faith avd turn away
from their allegiance; [it is impossible] to bring them
HEBREWS 6 835
back to repentance, for (because, ‘while, as long as)
they nail up on the cross the Son of God afresh, as far
as they are concerned, and are holding [Him] up to
contempt and shame and public disgrace.
7 For the soil which has drunk the rain that repeated-
ly falls upon it, and produces vegetation useful to those
for whose benefit it is cultivated, partakes of a blessing
from God.
8 But if [that same soil] persistently bears thorns and
thistles, it is considered worthless and near to being
cursed, whose end is to be burned. [Gen. 3:17, 18.]
9 Even though we speak this way, yet in your case,
beloved, we are now firmly convinced of better things
that are near to salvation and accompany it.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget or overlook
your labor and the love which you have shown for His
name’s sake in ministering to the needs of the saints —
His own consecrated people — as you still do.
1] But we do [°strongly and earnestly] desire for
each of you to show the same diligence and sincerity [all
the way through] in realizing and enjoying the full as-
surance and development of [your} hope until the end,
12 In order that you may not grow disinterested and
become [spiritual] sluggards but imitators, behaving as do
those who through faith [that is, ‘by their leaning of
the entire personality on God in Christ in absolute
trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and good-
ness], and by practise of patient endurance end waiting
are [now] inheriting the promises.
13. For when God made [His] promise to Abraham,
d Alternate reading. ® Vincent. f Souter.
836 HEBREWS 6
He swore by Himself, since He had no one greater by
whom to swear,
14 Saying, Blessing I certainly will bless you and
multiplying I will multiply you. [Gen. 22:16, 17.]
15 And so it was that he [Abraham] having waited
long and endured patiently, realized and obtained [in
the birth of Isaac as a pledge of what was to come] what
God had promised him.
16 Men indeed swear by a greater [than themselves],
and with them in all disputes the oath taken for con-
firmation is final — ending strife.
17 Accordingly God also, in His desire to show more
convincingly and beyond doubt, to those who were to in-
herit the promise, the unchangeableness of His purpose
and plan, intervened (mediated) with an oath.
18 This was so that by two unchangeable things
[His promise and His oath], in which it is impossible
for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have
fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling
strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold
fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us].
19 [Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and stead-
fast anchor of the soul —it cannot slip and it cannot
&break down under whoever steps out upon it — [a hope]
that reaches "farther and enters into [the very certainty
of the Presence] within the veil, [Lev. 16:2.]
20 Where Jesus has entered in for us [in advance],
a Forerunner having become a High Priest forever after
the order [with *the rank] of Melchizedek. [Ps. 110:4.]
κ᾿ Vincent. b Thayer.
HEBREWS 7 837
CHAPTER 7
OR this Melchizedek, king of Salem [and] priest
Ε of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned
from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him;
2 And Abraham gave to him a tenth portion of all
[the spoil]. He is primarily, as his name when trans-
lated indicates, king of righteousness, and then he is also
king of Salem, which means king of peace.
3 Without [record of] father or mother or ancestral
line, nor with beginning of days or ending of life, but
resembling the Son of God he continues to be a priest
without interruption avd without successor.
4 Now observe and consider how great [a personage]
this was to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a
tenth — the topmost [the pick] of the heap — of the spoils.
5 And it is true that those descendants of Levi who
are charged with the priestly office are commanded in
the Law to take tithes from the people, which means
from their brethren, though these have descended from
Abraham.
6 But this person who has not their Levitical ancestry
received tithes from Abraham [himself] and blessed him
who possessed the promises [of God].
7 Yet it is beyond all contradiction that it is the lesser
person who is blessed by the greater one.
8 Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood]
tithes are received by men who are subject to death;
while there [in the case of Melchizedek], they are re-
ceived by one of whom it is testified that he lives [per-
petually].
9 A person might even say that through Abraham,
838 HEBREWS 7
Levi [the father of the priestly tribe] himself, who re-
ceived tithes, paid tithes through Abraham.
10 For he was still in the loins of his forefather
[Abraham} when Melchizedek met him [Abraham].
11 Now if perfection [that is, a perfect fellowship
between God and the worshipper], had been attainable
by the Levitical priesthood, for under it the people
were given the Law, why was it further necessary that
there should arise another and different kind of Priest,
one after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one
appointed after the order and rank of Aaron?
12 For when there is a change in the priesthood,
there is of necessity an alteration of the law [concerning
the priesthood] as well.
13 For the One of Whom these things are said be-
longed [not to the priestly line but] to another tribe, no
member of which has officiated at the altar.
14 For it is obvious that our Lord sprang from the
tribe of Judah, and Moses mentioned nothing about
priests in connection with that tribe.
15 And this becomes more plainly evident when
another Priest arises Who bears the likeness of Mel-
chizedek, [Ps. 110:4.]
16 Who has been constituted a Priest, not on the
basis of a bodily legal requirement — an externally im-
posed command concerning His physical ancestry — but
on the basis of the power of an endless and indestructible
Life.
17 For it is witnessed of Him, You are a Priest
forever after the order [rank] of Melchizedek. [Ps.
110:4.]
HEBREWS 7 839
18 So, a previous physical regulation and command
is cancelled because of its weakness and ineffectiveness
and uselessness,
19 For the Law never made anything perfect, but
instead a better hope is introduced through which we
[now] come close to God.
20 And it was not without the taking of an oath
[that Christ was made Priest],
21 For those who formerly became priests received
their office without its being confirmed by the taking of
an oath by God, but this One was designated and ad-
dressed and saluted with an oath, The Lord has sworn
and will not regret it or change His mind, You are a
Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedck.
[Ps. 110:4.]
22 In keeping with [the oath’s greater strength and
force], Jesus has become the Guarantee of a better
(stronger) agreement — a more excellent and more advan-
tageous covenant.
23 [Again, the former successive line of priests] was
made up of many, because they were each prevented
by death from continuing [perpetually in office];
24 But He holds His priesthood unchangeably be
cause He lives on forever.
25 ‘Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost
—completely, perfectly, finally and for all time and
eternity — those who come to God through Him, since
He is always living to make petition to God and inter-
cede with Him and intervene for them.
26 [Here is] the High Priest [perfectly adapted] to
our needs, as was fitting, holy, blameless, unstained by
840 HEBREWS 8
sin, separated from sinners and exalted higher than thee
heavens.
27 He has no day by day necessity, as [do each of:
these other] high priests, to offer sacrifice first of all for
his own [personal] sins and then for those of the people;
because He [met all the requirements] once for all when
He brought Himself [as a sacrifice] which He offered up.
28 For the Law sets up men in their weakness [frail,
sinful, dying human beings] as high priests, but the word.
of [God’s] oath, which [was spoken later], after the in-
stitution of the Law, [chooses and appoints as priest One
Whose appointment is complete and permanent], a Son
Who has been made perfect forever. [Ps. 110:4.]
CHAPTER 8
OW the main point of what we have to say is
this: We have such a High Priest, One Who is
seated at the right hand of the majestic [God] in heaven,
[Ps. 110:1.]
2 As officiating Priest, a Minister in the holy places
and in the true tabernacle which is erected not by man
but by the Lord.
3. For every high priest is appointed to offer up gifts
and sacrifices; so it is essential for this [High Priest] to
have some offering to make also.
4 If then He were still living on earth, He would
not be a priest at all, for there are [already priests] who
offer the gifts in accordance with the Law.
5 [But these offer service merely as] a pattern and
as a foreshadowing of [what has its true existence and
reality in] the heavenly sanctuary. For when Moses was
HEBREWS 8 841
about to erect the tabernacle, he was warned by God,
saying, See to it that you make it all [exactly] according
to the copy (the model,.)) which was shown to you on the
mountain. [Ex. 25:40.]
6 But as it now is, He [Christ] has acquired a
[priestly] ministry which is as much superior and more
excellent [than the old] as the covenant — the agreement
—of which He is the Mediator (the Arbiter, Agent) is
superior and more excellent; [because] it is enacted and
rests upon more important (sublimer, higher and nobler)
promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been without defect,
there would have been no room for another one or an
attempt to institute another one.
8 However He finds fault with them, [showing its
inadequacy], when He says, Behold, the days wil! come,
says the Lord, when I will make and ratify a new cove-
nant or agreement with the house of Israel and with
the house of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant that J made with
their forefathers on the day when I grasped them by the
hand to help and relieve them and to lead them out from
the land of Egypt, for they did not abide in My agree-
ment with them, and so I withdrew My favor and dis-
regarded them, says the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with
the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will
imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their
innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave
them upon their hearts, and I will be their God, and
they shall be My people.
842 HEBREWS 9
11 And it will nevermore be necessary for every
one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or every
one his brother, saying, Know — [that is,] perceive, have
knowledge of and get acquainted by experience with —
the Lord; for all will know Me, from the smallest to the
greatest of them.
12 For I will be merciful and gracious toward their
sins and 1 will remember their deeds of unrighteousness
no more. [Jer. 31:31-34.]
13 When God speaks of a new [covenant or agree-
ment], He makes the first one obsolete— out of use.
And what is obsolete — out of use and annulled because
of age —is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed
with altogether.
CHAPTER 9
Ν even the first covenant had its own rules and
regulations for divine worship, and it had a sanc-
tuary, [but one] of this world. [Ex. 25:10-40.]
2 For a tabernacle (tent) was erected, in the outer
division or compartment of which were the lampstand
and the table with [its loaves of] the showbread set forth.
[This portion] is called the Holy [Place]. [Lev.
24:5, 6.]
3 But [inside], beyond the second curtain or veil,
[there stood another] tabernacle [division] known as the
Holy of Holies. [Ex. 26:31-33.]
4 It had the golden altar of incense and the ark
(chest) of the covenant, covered over with wrought gold.
This [ark] contained a golden jar which held the
= Not kept permanently in the Holy of Holies, but taken in on the Day
of Atonement, as the Mischna explains. - Alford. Cited by Wuest in
“Hebrews.”
HEBREWS 9 843
manna, and the rod of Aaron that sprouted, and the [two
stone} slabs of the covenant, [bearing the Ten Com-
mandments}. [Ex. 30:1-6, 16:32-34; Num. 17:8-10.]
5 Above [the ark] and overshadowing the mercy seat
were the representations of the cherubim [winged crea-
tures which were the symbols] of glory. We cannot now
go into detail about these things.
6 These arrangements having thus been made, the
priests enter habitually into the outer division of the
tabernacle, in performance of their ritual acts of worship.
7 But into the second [division of the tabernacle]
none but the high priest goes, and he only once a year,
and never without taking a sacrifice of blood with him,
which he offers for himself and for the errors and sins
of ignorance and thoughtlessness which the people have
committed. [Lev. 16:15.]
8 By this the Holy Spirit points out that the way
into the [true Holy of] Holies is not yet thrown open as
long as the former [the outer portion of the} tabernacle
remains a recognized institution and is still standing,
9 Seeing that that first [outer portion of the] taber-
nacle was a parable — ἃ visible symbol or type or picture
of the present age. In it gifts and sacrifices are offered,
and yet are incapable of perfecting tlie conscience or of
cleansing and renewing the inner man of the worshipper.
10 For [the ceremonies} deal only with clean and
unclean meats and drinks and different washings, [mere]
external rules and regulations for the body imposed to
tide the worshippers over until the time of setting things
straight — of reformation, [of the complete new order
844 HEBREWS 9
when Christ, the Messiah, shall establish the reality of
what these things foreshadow, a better covenant].
11 But [that appointed time came] when Christ, the
Messiah, appeared as a High Priest of the better things
that have come and *are to come. [Then] through the
greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with
[human] hands, that is, not a part of this material crea-
tion,
12 He went once for all into the [Holy of] Holies
[of heaven], taking not the blood of goats and calves
[by which to make reconciliation between God and
man], but His own blood, thus finding and securing a
complete redemption — an everlasting release [for us].
13 For if [the mere] sprinkling of unholy and de-
filed persons with blood of goats and bulls and with the
ashes of a burnt heifer is sufhcient for the purification
of the body, [Lev. 16:6, 16; Num. 19:9, 17, 18.]
14 How much more surely shall the blood of Christ,
Who >by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [*His own pre-
existent ‘divine personality] has offered Himself an un-
blemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from
dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever-]
living God?
15 [Christ, the Messiah] is therefore the Negotiator
and Mediator of an [entirely] new agreement C(testa-
ment, covenant), so that those who are called and offered
it, may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting
inheritance, since a death has taken place which rescues
*Alternate reading. > Vincent.
© Many authorities. 4 Alford, cited by Wuest.
HEBREWS 9 845
and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions
committed under the [old], first agreement.
16 For where there is a [last] will and testament in-
volved, the death of the one who made it must be
established,
17 For a will and testament is valid and takes effect
only at death, since it has no force or legal power as
long as the one who made it is alive.
18 So even the Cold) first covenant [God’s will] was
not inaugurated and ratified and put in force without
the shedding of blood.
19 For when every command of the Law had been
read out by Moses to all the people, he took the blood
of slain calves and goats, together with water and
scarlet wool, and with a bunch of hyssop sprinkled both
the Book [the roll of the Law and covenant] itself, and
all the people,
20 Saying these words: This is the blood that seals
and ratihes the agreement (the testament, the covenant)
which God commanded [me to deliver to] you. [Ex.
24:6-8. ]
21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the
blood both the tabernacle and all the [sacred] vessels and
appliances used in [divine] worship.
22 [In fact], under the Law almost everything is
purifed by means of blood, and without the shedding
of blood there is neither release from sin and its guilt
nor the remission of the due and merited punishment
for sins.
23 By such means therefore it was necessary for the
[earthly] copies of the heavenly things to be purified,
846 HEBREWS 10
but the actual heavenly things themselves [required far]
better and nobler sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ, the Messiah, has not entered into a
sanctuary made with [human] hands, only a copy and
pattern and type of the true one, but [He has entered]
into heaven itself, now to appear in the [very] presence
of God on our behalf.
25 Nor did He [enter into the heavenly sanctuary
to] offer Himself regularly again and again, as the high
priest enters the [Holy of] Holies every year with blood
not his own;
26 For then would He often have had to suffer,
[over and over again] since the foundation of the world.
But as it now is, He has once for all at the consummation
and close of the ages appeared to put away and abolish
sin by His sacrifice [of Himself].
27 And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to
die and after that the [certain] judgment,
28 Even so it is that Christ having been offered to
take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many
once and ‘once for all, will appear a second time, not
carrying any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to
bring to full salvation those who are Ceagerly, constantly
and patiently) waiting for and expecting Him.
CHAPTER 10
OR since the Law has merely a rude outline Cfore-
shadowing) of the good things to come, instead of
fully expressing those things, it can never by offering
b Abbott-Smith.
HEBREWS 10 847
the same sacrifices continually year after year make per-
fect those who approach [its altars].
2 For were it otherwise, would [these sacrifices] not
have stopped being offered? Since the worshippers had
‘once for all been cleansed, they would no longer have
any guilt or consciousness of sin.
3. But [as it is], these sacrifices annually bring a fresh
remembrance of sins [to be atoned for],
4 Because the blood of bulls and goats is powerless
to take sins away.
5 Hence, when He (Christ) entered into the world,
He said, Sacrifices and offerings You have not desired,
but instead You have made ready a body for Me [to
offer];
6 In burnt offerings and sin offerings You have
taken no delight.
7 Then I said, Lo, here I am, come to do Your will,
O God; [to fulfill] what is written of Me in the volume
of the Book. [Ps. 40:6-8.]
8 When He said just before, You have neither de-
sired nor have You taken delight in sacrifices and offer-
ings and burnt offerings and sin offerings, all of which
are offered according to the Law,
9 He then went on to say, Lo, [here] I am, come to
do Your will. Thus He does away with and annuls the
first (former) order [as a means of expiating sin] so that
He might inaugurate and establish the second (latter)
order. [Ps. 40:6-8.]
10 And in accordance with this will [of God] we
have been made holy (consecrated and sanctified) through
¢ Abbott-Smith.
848 HEBREWS 10
the offering made once for all of the body of Jesus Christ,
the Anointed One.
11 Furthermore, every [human] priest stands [at his
altar of service] ministering daily, offering the same sacri-
fices over and over again, which never are able to strip
(from every side of us) the sins [that envelop us], and
take them away.
12 Whereas this One (Christ), after He had offered
a single Sacrifice for our sins [that shall avail] for all
time, sat down at the right hand of God,
13 Then to wait until His enemies should be made
a stool beneath His feet. [Ps. 110:1.]
14 For by a single offering He has forever com-
pletely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated
and made holy.
15 And also the Holy Spirit adds His testimony to
us [in confirmation of this]. For having said,
16 This is the agreement (testament, covenant) that
I will set up and conclude with them after those days,
says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their hearts,
and I will inscribe them on their minds — on their inmost
thoughts and understanding,
17 He then goes on to say, And their sins and their
lawbreakings I wil! remember no more. [Jer. 31:33, 34.]
18 Now where there is absolute remission — forgive-
ness and cancellation of the penalty — of these [sins and
lawbreakings] there is no longer any offering made to
atone for sin.
19 Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom
and confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by
the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus,
HEBREWS 10 849
20 By this fresh (new) and living way which He
initiated and dedicated and opened for us through the
separating curtain [veil of the Holy of Holies], that is,
through His flesh;
21 And since we have [such] a great and wonderful
and noble Priest [Who rules] over the house of God,
22 Let us all come forward and draw near with true
Chonest and sincere.) hearts in unqualified assurance and
absolute conviction engendered by faith, [that is, by
"that leaning of the entire human personality on God
in absolute trust and confdence in His power, wisdom
and goodness], having our hearts sprinkled and purihed
from a guilty Cevil) conscience and with our bodies
cleansed with pure water.
23 So let us seize and hold fast and retain without
wavering the Shope we cherish and confess, and our
acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable
(sure) and faithful to His word.
24 And let us consider and give “attentive, continu-
ous care to watching over one another, studying how we
may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful
deeds and noble activities;
25 Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together
[as believers], as is the habit of some people, hut admon-
ishing — warning, urging and encouraging —one an-
other, and all the more faithfully as you see the day ap-
proaching.
26 For if we go on deliberately and willingly sinning
after once acquiring the knowledge of the Truth, there
*Souter. b Vincent. ‘Tyndale, Coverdele, and many early Bibles.
850 HEBREWS 10
is no longer any sacrifice left to atone for [our] sins — no
further offering to which to look forward.
27 [There is nothing left for us then] but a kind of
awful and fearful prospect and expectation of divine
judgment and the fury of burning wrath and indignation
which will consume those who put themselves in opposi-
tion [to God]. [Is. 26:11.]
28 Any person who has violated and [thus] rejected
and set at naught the Law of Moses is put to death
without pity or mercy on the evidence of two or three
witnesses. [Deut. 17:2-6.]
29 How much worse (sterner and heavier) punish-
ment do you suppose he will be judged to deserve who
has spurned and [thus] trampled under foot the Son of
God, and who has considered the covenant blood by
which he was consecrated common and unhallowed, thus
profaning it and insulting and outraging the CHoly)
Spirit [Who imparts] grace —the unmerited favor and
blessing of God? [Ex. 24:8.]
30 For we know Him Who said, Vengeance is Mine
— retribution and the meting out of full justice rest with
Me; I will repay —I will exact the compensation, says
the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge and determine
and solve and settle the cause and the cases of His people.
[Deut. 32:35, 36.]
31 It is a fearful Cformidable and terrible) thing to
incur the divine penalties and be cast into the hands
of the living God!
32 But be ever mindful of the days gone by in which,
after you were first spiritually enlightened, you endured
a great and painful struggle,
HEBREWS 10 85]
33 Sometimes being yourselves a gazingstock, public-
y exposed to insults and abuse and distress, and some-
imes claiming fellowship and making common cause
vith others who were so treated.
34 For you did sympathize and suffer along with
hose who were imprisoned, and you bore cheerfully the
olundering of your belongings and the confiscation of
your property, in the knowledge and consciousness that
vou yourselves had a better and lasting possession.
35 Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless con-
dence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation
of reward.
36 For you have need of steadfast patience and en-
Jurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish
the will of God, and thus receive and ‘carry away [and
enjoy to the full] what is promised.
37 For still a little while —a very little while - and
the Coming One will come and He wi!] not delay.
38 But the just shall live by faith [that is, My right-
eous servant shall live “by his conviction respecting man’s
relationship to God and divine things, and holy fervor
born of faith and conjoined with it]; and if he draws
back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or
pleasure in him. [Hab. 2:3, 4.]
39 But our way is not that of those who draw back
to eternal misery (perdition) and are utterly destroyed,
but we are of those who believe — who cleave to and
trust in and rely on God through Jesus Christ, the
Messiah — and by faith preserve the soul.
¢ Vincent.
ἃ Thayer’s “Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.”
852 HEBREWS 11
CHAPTER 11
OW faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the
title-deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the
proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of
their reality — faith perceiving as real fact what is not
revealed to the senses.
2 For by [faith], and "trust and holy fervor born
of faith, the men of old had divine testimony borne to
them and obtained a good report.
3. By faith we understand that the worlds [during the
successive ages] were framed — fashioned, put in order
and equipped for their intended purpose — by the word
of God, so that what we see was not made out of things
which are visible.
4 [Prompted, actuated] by faith Abel brought God
a better and more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, because
of which it was testified of him that he was righteous —
[that 15], that he was upright and in right standing with
God — and God bore witness by accepting and acknow-
ledging his gifts. And though he died, yet through
[the incident] he is still speaking. [Gen. 4:3-10.]
5 Because of faith Enoch was caught up and trans-
ferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of
death; and he was not found, because God had trans-
lated him. For even before he was taken to heaven he
received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased
and been satisfactory to God. [Gen. 5:21-24.]
6 But without faith it is impossible to please and
be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near
to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and
“Thayer. bMoulton and Milligan.
HEBREWS 11 853
that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and
diligently seek Him (out).
7 [Prompted] by faith Noah, being forewarned of
God concerning events of which as yet there was no visi-
ble sign, took heed and diligently and reverently con-
structed and prepared an ark for the deliverance of his
own family. By this [his faith which relied on God] he
passed judgment avd sentence on the world’s unbelief
and became an heir and possessor of righteousness, [*that
relation of being right into which God puts the person
who has faith]. [Gen. 6:13-22.]
8 [Urged on] by faith Abraham when he was called,
obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined
to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he
did not know or trouble his mind about where he was
to go.
9 [Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resi-
dent in the land which was designated in the promise | of
God, though he was as a stranger] in a strange country,
living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with
him of the same promise. [Gen. 12:1-8.]
10 For he was waiting expectantly and confidently,
Jooking forward to the city which has fixed and firm
foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God.
11 Because of faith also Sarah herself received physi-
cal power to conceive a child, even when she was long
past the age for it, because she considered [God] Who
had given her the promise, reliable and trustworthy and
true to His word. [Gen. 17:19; 18:11-14; 21:2.]
12 So from one man, though he was physically as
«Thayer.
854 HEBREWS 11
good as dead, there have sprung descendants whose num-
ber is as the stars of heaven, and as countless as the
innumerable sands on the seashore. [Gen. 15:5, 6;
22:17; 32:12.]
13. These people all died controlled and sustained by
their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfll-
ment of [God’s] promises, only having seen it and
greeted it from a great distance by faith, and all the
while acknowledging and confessing that they were
strangers and temporary residents and exiles upon the
earth. [Ps. 39:12; Gen. 23:4.]
14 Now those people who talk as they did show
plainly that they are in search of a fatherland — their
own country.
15 If they had been thinking with [homesick]
remembrance of that country from which they were emi-
grants, they would have found constant opportunity to
return to it;
16 But the truth is that they were yearning for and
aspiring to a better and more desirable country, that is,
a heavenly [one]. For that reason God is not ashamed
to be called their God — even to be surnamed their God
{the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob]; for He has
prepared a city for them. [Ex. 3:6, 15; 4:5.]
17 By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test —
that is, while the testing of his faith was 4still in progress
— Shad already brought Isaac for an offering; he who had
*gladly received and welcomed [God’s] promises was
ready to sacrifice his only son, [Gen. 22:1-10.]
4 Vincent. e American Standard Version.
HEBREWS 11 855
18 Of whom it was said, Through Isaac shall your
descendants be reckoned. [Gen. 21:12.]
19 For he reasoned that God was able to raise [him]
up even from among the dead. Indeed in the sense that
Isaac was figuratively dead (potentially sacrificed), he
did [actually] receive him back from the dead.
20 [With eyes of] faith Isaac, looking far into the
future, invoked blessings upon Jacob and Esau. [Gen.
27 :27-29, 39, 40.]
21 [Prompted] by faith Jacob, when he was dying,
blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and bowed in prayer over
the top of his staff. [Gen. 48.]
22 [Actuated] by faith Joseph, when nearing the end
of his life, referred to [the promise of God for] the de-
parture of the Israelites out of Egypt, and gave instruc-
tions concerning the burial of his own bones. [Gen.
50:24, 25; Ex. 13:19.]
23 [Prompted] by faith Moses after his birth was kept
concealed for three months by his parents, because they
saw how comely the child was, and they were not over-
awed and terrified by the king’s decree. [Ex. 2:2; 1:22.]
24 [Aroused] by faith Moses, when he had grown to
maturity and "become great, refused to be called the son
of Pharaoh’s daughter, [Ex. 2:10, 15.]
25 Because he preferred rather to share the oppres-
sion (suffer the hardships) and bear the shame of the
people of God than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a
sinful life.
26 He considered the contempt and abuse and shame
® Literal translation.
856 HEBREWS 11
[borne for] the Christ, the Messiah [Who was to come],
to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for
he looked forward and away to the reward (recompense).
27 [Motivated] by faith he left Egypt behind him,
being unawed and undismayed by the wrath of the king;
for he never flinched but held staunchly to his purpose
and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who
is invisible. [Ex. 2:15.]
28 By faith (simple trust and confidence in God) he
instituted and carried out the Passover and the sprinkling
of the blood [on the doorposts], so that [the angel], the
destroyer of the first-born, might not touch those [of the
children of Israel]. [Ex. 12:21-30.]
29 [Urged on] by faith the people crossed the Red
Sea as though on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried
to do the same thing they were swallowed up [by the
564. [Ex. 14:21-31.]
30 Because of faith the walls of Jericho fell down
after they had been encompassed for seven days [by the
Israelites}. [Josh. 6:12-21.]
31 [Prompted] by faith Rahab the prostitute was not
destroyed along with those who refused to believe and
obey, because she had received the spies in peace Cwith-
out enmity). [Josh. 2:1-21; 6:22-25.]
32 And what shall I say further? For time would
fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of
David and Samuel and the prophets, [Judg. 6-8; 4, 5;
13-16; 11, 12; 1 Sam. 16-30; II Sam. 1-24; I Kin. 1, 2; 11;
I Sam. 1-12; 15; 16:1-13.]
33 Who by [the help of] faith subdued kingdoms,
HEBREWS 11 857
administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed
the mouths of lions, [Dan. 6.]
34 Extinguished the power of raging fire, escaped the
devourings of the sword, out of frailty and weakness won
strength and became stalwart, even mighty and resistless
in battle, routing alien hosts. [Dan. 3.]
35 [Some] women received again their dead by a
resurrection. Others were tortured »to death with clubs,
refusing to accept release [offered on the terms of deny-
ing their faith], that they might be resurrected to a
better life. [I Kin. 17:17-24; 11 Kin. 4:25-37.]
36 Others had to suffer the trial of mocking and
scourging, and even chains and imprisonment.
37 ‘They were stoned to death; they were lured with
tempting offers [to renounce their faith]; they were sawn
asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; [while they
were alive] they had to go about wrapped in thc skins
of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly
treated,
38 [Men] of whom the world was not worthy, roam-
ing over the desolate places and the mountains, and
[living] in caves and caverns and holes of the earth.
39 And all of these, though they won divine approval
by [means of] their faith, did not receive the fulfill-
ment of what was promised,
40 Because God had us in mind and had something
better and greater.in view for us, so that they [these
heroes and heroines of faith] should not come to perfec-
tion apart from us, [that is, before we could join them].
b Vincent.
858 HEBREWS 12
CHAPTER 12
HEREFORE then, since we are surrounded by so
great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testi-
mony of the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every
encumbrance — unnecessary weight — and that sin which
so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles
us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady
and active persistence the appointed course of the race
that is set before us,
2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus,
Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving
the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher,
[bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy
[of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured
the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now
seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [Ps.
110:1.]
3. Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such
grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself —
reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your
trials —so that you may not grow weary or exhausted,
losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.
4 You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly
against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to
the point of pouring out your [own] blood.
5 And have you [completely] forgotten the divine
word of appeal and encouragement in which you are
reasoned with and addressed as sons? My son, do not
think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and
discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and
faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him;
HEBREWS 12 859
6 For the Lord corrects and disciplines every one
whom [16 loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every
son whom [le accepts and welcomes to His heart and
cherishes.
7 You must submit to and endure [correction] for
discipline. God is dealing with you as with sons; for
what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train
and correct and discipline?
8 Now if vou are exempt from correction and left
without discipline in which all [of God’s children] share,
then you are illegitimate offspring avd not true sons [at
all]. [Prov. 3:11, 12.]
9 Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disci-
plined us and we yielded [to them] ad respected [them
for training 05]. Shall we not much more cheerfully
submit to the Father of spirits and so [truly] live?
10 For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a
short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper
and good to them, but He disciplines us for our certain
good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness.
11 For the time being no discipline brings joy but
seems grievous and painful, but afterwards it yields
peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have
been trained by it—a harvest of fruit which consists in
righteousness, [that is, in conformity to God’s will in pur-
pose, thought and action, resulting in right living and
tight standing with God].
12 So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right
your slackened and weakened and drooping hands, and
strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees,
[Is. 35:3.]
860 HEBREWS 12
13 And cut through and make firm and plain and
smooth, straight paths for your feet — [yes, make them]
safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right
direction — so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not
be put out of joint, but rather may be cured.
14 Strive to live in peace with everybody, and pursue
that consecration and holiness without which no one will
[ever] see the Lord.
15 Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look
[after one another], to see that no one falls back from and
fails to secure God's grace CHis unmerited favor and
spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment
(rancor, bitterness or hatred) shoot forth and cause
trouble and bitter torment, and the many become con-
taminated and defiled by it;
16 That no one may become guilty of sexual vice, or
become a profane (godless and sacrilegious) person as
Esau did, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
[Gen. 25:29-34.]
17 For you understand that later on, when he wanted
[to regain title to] his inheritance of the blessing, he
was rejected (disqualified and set aside), for he could find
no opportunity to repair by repentance [what he had
done} — that is, no chance to recall the choice he had
made — although he sought for it carefully with [bitter]
tears. [Gen. 27:30-40.]
18 For you have not come [as did the Israelites in
the wilderness} to a [material] mountain that can be
touched, [a mountain] that is ablaze with fire, and to
gloom and darkness and a raging storm,
19 And the blast of a trumpet, and a voice whose
HEBREWS 12 86]
words make the listeners beg that nothing more be said
to them. [Ex. 19:12-22; 20:18-21; Deut. 4:11, 12;
5:22-27.]
20 For they could not bear the command that was
given, If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it
shall be stoned to death. [Ex. 19:12, 13.]
21 In fact, so awful and terrifying was the (phenom-
enal) sight that Moses said, I am terrified — aghast and
trembling with fear. [Deut. 9:19.]
22 But rather, you have approached unto Mount
Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal
gathering,
23 And to the church Cassembly) of the First-born
who are registered fas citizens] in heaven, and to the
Judge Who is God of all, and to the spirits of the righteous
{the redeemed in heaven] who have been made perfect;
24 And to Jesus, the Mediator — Go-between, Agent
—of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which
speaks [of mercy,] a better and nobler and more gracious
message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for
vengeance]. [Gen. 4:10.]
25 So see to it that you do not reject Him or refuse
to listen to and heed Him Who is speaking [to you now].
For if they [the Israelites] did not escape when they re-
fused to listen and heed Him Who warned and divinely
instructed them [here] on earth — revealing with heaven-
ly warnings His will —how much less shall we escape
if we reject and turn our backs on Him Who cautions
and admonishes [us] from heaven?
26 Then [at Mount Sinai] His voice shook the
862 HEBREWS 13
earth; but now He has given a promise, Yet once more
I will shake and make tremble not only the earth but
also the (starry) heavens. [Hag. 2:6.]
27 Now this expression, Yet once more, indicates
the final removal and transformation of all [that can be]
shaken, that is, of that which has been created, in order
that what cannot be shaken may remain and continue.
[Ps. 102:26.]
28 Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm
and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing
service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious
care and godly fear and awe;
29 For our God [is indeed] a consuming fie.
[Deut. 4:24.]
CHAPTER 13
͵ love for your fellow believers continue and be
a fixed practice with you — never let it fail.
2 Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hos-
pitality to strangers [in the brotherhood] — being friend-
ly, cordial and gracious, sharing the comforts of your
home and doing your part generously — for through it
some have entertained angels without knowing it.
[Gen. 18:1-8; 19:1-3.]
3 Remember those who are in prison, as if you were
their fellow prisoner; and those who are ill-treated, since
you also are liable to bodily sufferings.
4 Let marriage be held in honor — esteemed worthy,
precious, [that is], of great price and especially dear —
in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be (kept
undishonored, ) undefiled; for God will judge and punish
HEBREWS 13 863
the unchaste Call guilty of sexual vice) and adulterous.
5 Let your “character or moral disposition be free
from love of money — [including] greed, avarice, lust
and craving for earthly possessions — and be satisfied with
vour present [circumstances and with what you have];
for He (God) "Himself has said, I will not in any way
fail you nor ™give you up nor leave you without support.
(I will] not, 51 will] not, [1 will] not in any degree
leave you helpless, nor forsake nor "let [you] down,
[™relax My hold on you]. —°Assuredly not! [Josh. 1:5.]
6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and con-
fidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper, [ will
not be seized with alarm — I will not fear or dread or be
terrihed. What can man do to me? [Ps. 118:6; 27:1.]
7 Remember your leaders and superiors in authority,
[for it was they] who brought to you the Word of God.
Observe attentively and consider their manner of living
— the outcome of their well-spent lives — and imitate their
faith [that is, *their conviction that God exists and is
the Creator and Ruler of al! things, the Provider and
Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ; and their
“leaning of the entire human personality on God in
absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and
goodness].
8 Jesus Christ, the Messiah, [is always] the same,
vesterday, today, [yes,] and forever — to the ages.
9 Do not be carried about by different and varied
and alien teachings; for it is good for the heart to be
established and ennobled and strengthened by means of
grace (God's favor and spiritual blessing) and not [to be
mV incent. "Wuest. Three negatives precede the verb. °Souter.
aThaver,.
864 HEBREWS 13
devoted to] foods Crules of diet and ritualistic meals)
which bring no [spiritual] benefit or profit to those who
observe them.
10 We have an altar from which those who serve and
bworship in the tabernacle have no right to eat.
11 For when the blood of animals is brought into
the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin,
the victims’ bodies are burned outside the limits of the
camp. [Lev. 16:27.]
12 Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the
{city’s] gate in order that He might purify and consecrate
the people through [the shedding of] His own blood, and
set them apart as holy — for God.
13. Let us then go forth [from all that would prevent
us] to Him outside the camp, [at Calvary,] bearing
the contempt and abuse and shame [with] Him.
{Lev. 16:27.]
14 For here we have no permanent city, but we are
looking for the one which is to come.
15 Through Him therefore let us constantly and at
all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is
the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess
and glorify His name. [{Lev. 7:12; Is. 57:19; Hos. 14:2.]
16 Do not forget or neglect to do kindness and good,
to be generous and distribute and contribute to the needy
[of the church *as embodiment and proof of fellowship],
for such sacrifices are well-pleasing to God.
17 Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them —
continually recognizing their authority over you; for they
are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guard-
“Thayer. bVincent.
HEBREWS 13 865
1g your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to
‘nder an account [of their trust]. [Do your part to] let
iem do this with gladness, and not with sighing and
roaning, for that would not be profitable to you [either].
18 Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we
ave a good, (clear) conscience, that we want to walk
prightly and to live a noble life, acting honorably and
1 complete honesty in all things.
19 And I beg of you [to pray for us] the more
irnestly in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.
20 Now may the God of peace— [Who is] the
.uthor and the Giver of peace — and Who brought again
-om among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd
Ε the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the
verlasting agreement [covenant, testament], [[5. 63:11;
ech. 9:11; Is. 55:3; Ezek. 37:26.]
21 Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you
shat you ought to be, and equip you with everything
ood that you may carry out His will; [while He Him-
elf] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleas-
ag in His sight, through Jesus Christ, the Messiah; to
Vhom be the glory forever and ever —to the ages of
he ages. Amen -- 50 be it.
22 I call on you, brethren, to listen patiently and
ear with this message of exhortation and admonition
md encouragement, for I have written to you briefly.
23 Notice that our brother Timothy has been re-
eased [from prison]. If he comes here soon, I will see
rou along with him.
24 Give our greetings to all of your spiritual leaders
866 HEBREWS 13
and to all of CGod’s consecrated believers, your fellow)
saints. Lhe Italian Christians send you their greetings
[also].
25 Grace (God's favor and spiritual blessing) be
with you all. Amen — so be it.
THE LETTER
OF
JAMES
CHAPTER 1
A ake a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
to the twelve tribes scattered abroad Camong the
Gentiles, in the dispersion): Greeting — ®rejoice!
2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever
you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort, or
fall into various temptations.
+5
3 Be assured and understand that the trial and prov-
ing of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness
and patience.
4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience
have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may
be [people] perfectly and fully developed Cwith no de-
fects), lacking in nothing.
5 I£ any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask
of "the giving God [Who gives] to every cone liberally
and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faulthnding,
and it will be given him.
6 Only it must be in faith that he asks, with no
wavering — no hesitating, no doubting. For the one who
wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out
at sea, that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the
wind.
7 For truly, let not such a person imagine that he
will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord,
8 [For being as he is] a man of two minds — hesitat-
*Literal meaning.
867
868 JAMES 1
ing, dubious, irresolute — [he is] unstable and unreliable
and uncertain about everything Che thinks, feels, decides).
9 Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in
his elevation [as a Christian, called to the true riches
and to be an heir of God];
10 And the rich [person ought to glory] in being
humbled [by being shown his human frailty], because
like the flower of the grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun comes up with a scorching heat and
parches the grass; its flower falls off and its beauty fades
away. Even so will the rich man wither and die in the
midst of his pursuits. [Is. 40:6,7.]
12 Blessed, happy, "to be envied is the man who is
patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for
when he has stood the test and been approved he will
receive [the victor’s] crown of life which God has
promised to those who love Him.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted
from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by
[what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one.
14 But every person is tempted when he is drawn
away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust,
passions ).
15 Then the evil desire when it has conceived gives
birth to sin, and sin when it is fully matured brings forth
death.
16 Do not be misled, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect (‘free, large,
full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father
Souter. ¢Vincent.
JAMES 1 869
of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there
can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by
[lis turning [as in an eclipse].
18 And it was of His own [free] will that He gave
us birth Cas sons) by [His] Word of Truth, so that we
should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures — [a
sample] of what He created to be consecrated to Himself.
19 Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let
every man be quick to hear, (ἃ ready listener,) slow to
speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.
20 For man’s anger does not promote the righteous-
ness God [wishes and requires].
21 So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant
outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, mod-
est) spirit receive and welcome the Word which im-
planted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power
to save your souls.
22 But—obey the message; be doers of the Word,
and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into
deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].
23 For if any one only listens to the Word without
obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who
looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror;
24 For he thoughtfully observes himself, then goes
of and promptly forgets what he was like.
25 But he who looks carefully into the faultless law,
the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres
in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who
forgets, but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be
blessed in his doing — in his life of obedience.
26 If any one thinks himself to be religious — piously
870 JAMES 2
observant of the external duties of his faith — and does
not bridle his tongue, but deludes his own heart, this
person’s religious service is worthless (futile, barren).
27 External *religious worship (religion as it is ex-
pressed in outward acts) that is pure and unblemished
in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and
help and care for the orphans and widows in their
affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and
uncontaminated from the world.
CHAPTER 2
Y brethren, pay no servile regard to people — show
no prejudice, no partiality. Do not [attempt to]
hold and practise the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ [the
Lord] of glory together with — snobbery!
2 For if a person comes into your congregation whose
hands are adorned with gold rings and who is wearing
splendid apparel, and also a poor [man] in shabby
clothes comes in,
3 And you pay special attention to the one who
wears the splendid clothes and say to him, Sit here in
this preferable seat! while you tell the poor [man], Stand
there! or, Sit there on the floor at my feet!
4 Are you not discriminating among your own, and
becoming critics and judges with wrong motives?
5. Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen
those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich
in faith and in their position as believers, and to inherit
*‘‘Religion in its rise interests us about ourselves; in its progress, about
our fellow-creatures; in its highest stage, about the honor of God.”
(—Jamieson, Fausset and Brown).
bAbbott-Smith; Moulton and Milligan; Vincent, ete.
JAMES 2 87]
the kingdom which He has promised to those who love
Tim?
6 But you [in contrast] have insulted — humiliated,
dishonored and shown your contempt for — the poor. Is
it not the rich who domineer over you? Is it not they
who drag you into the law courts?
7 Is it not they who slander and blaspheme that
precious name by which you are distinguished and called
[the name of Christ invoked in baptism]?
8 If indeed you [really] fulfill the royal Law, in ac-
cordance with the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor
as [you love] yourself, you do well. [Lev. 19:18.]
9 But if you show servile regard (prejudice, favor-
itism) for people, you commit sin and are rebuked and
convicted by the Law as violators and offenders.
10 For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole, but
stumbles and offends in one [single instance] has become
guilty of [breaking] all of it.
11 For He Who said, You shall not commit adultery,
also said, You shall not kill. If you do not commit
adultery but do kill, you have become guilty of trans-
gressing the [whole] Law. [Ex. 20:13, 14; Dt. 5:17, 18.]
12 So speak and so act as [people should] who are
to be judged under the law of liberty [the moral instruc-
tion given by Christ, especially about love].
13 For to him who has shown no mercy the judg-
ment [will be] merciless; but mercy [full of glad conf-
dence] exults victoriously over judgment.
14 What is the use (profit), my brethren, for any
one to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works
[to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]?
872 JAMES 2
15 If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food '
for each day,
16 And one of you says to him, Goodbye! Keep
[yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the .
necessities for the body, what good does that do?
17 So also faith if it does not have works (deeds and
actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute ᾿
of power — inoperative, dead.
18 But some one will say [to you then], You [say
you] have faith and I have [good] works. Now you
show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good]
works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedi-
ence] will show you my faith.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. So
do the demons believe, and shudder [in terror and horror
such as "make a man’s hair stand on end and contract the
surface of his skin]!
20 Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish,
unproductive, spiritually-deficient fellow, that faith apart
from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and
worthless?
21 Was not our forefather Abraham [shown to be]
justified — made acceptable to God—by [his] works
when he brought to the altar as an offering his [own]
son Isaac? [Gen. 22:1-14.]
22 You see that [his] faith was co-operating with his
works, and [his] faith was completed and reached its
supreme expression [when he implemented it] by [goad]
works.
23 And [so] the Scripture was fulfilled that says,
*“Vincent’s ‘‘Word Studies in the New Testament.”
JAMES 3 873
Abraham believed — adhered to, trusted in and relied
on — God, and this was accounted to him as righteous-
ness [as conformity to God’s will in thought and deed],
and he was called God’s friend. [Gen. 15:6; Is. 41:8;
II Chron. 20:7.]
24 You see that a man is justified Cpronounced
righteous before God) through what he does and not
alone through faith —through works of obedience as
well as by what he believes.
25 So also with Rahab the harlot. Was she not
shown to be justified (pronounced righteous before God)
by [good] deeds when she took in the scouts (spies) and
got them away by a different route? [Josh. 2:1-21.]
26 For as the human body apart from the spirit is
lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is
also dead.
CHAPTER 3
N°. many [of you] should become teachers | ®self-
constituted censors and reprovers of others], my
brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged
by a higher standard and with greater severity [than
other people]. — Thus we assume the greater accounta-
bility and the more condemnation.
2 For we all often stumble and fall and offend in
many things. And if any one does not offend in speech
— never says the wrong things — he is a fully developed
character and a perfect man, able to control his whole
body and to curb his entire nature.
‘John Calvin, quoted by Jamieson, Fausset and Brown in “A Com-
mentary on the Old and New Testaments.”’
874 JAMES 3
3 If we set bits in the horses’ mouths to make them
obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about.
4 Likewise look at the ships, though they are so
great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered’
by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the:
helmsman determines.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can
boast of great things. See how much wood or how
great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze!
6 And the tongue [is] a fire. [The tongue is a] world!
of wickedness set among our members, contaminating.
and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the
wheel of birth — the cycle of man’s nature — being itself
ignited by hell CGehenna).
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and
sea animal, can be tamed and has been tamed by human
genius (nature).
8 But the human tongue can be tamed by no man.
It is Can undisciplined, irreconcilable) restless evil, full of
death-bringing poison.
9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it
we curse men who were made in God’s likeness!
10 Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and
cursing. ‘These things, my brethren, ought not to be so.
11 Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from
the same opening fresh water and bitter?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a
grapevine figs? Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh
water.
JAMES 3 875
13. Who is there among you who is wise and in-
telligent? ‘Then let him by his noble living show forth
his [good] works with the (unobtrusive) humility
{which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy Cenvy) and con-
tention Crivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do
not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of
and false to the Truth.
15 This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes
down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal),
even devilish Cdemonical).
16 For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and con-
tention (rivalry and selfish ambition) there will also be
confusion Cunrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts
of evil and vile practices.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure
Cundefled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (con-
siderate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full
of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and
straightforward, impartial and unfeigned— free from
doubts, wavering and insincerity.
18 And the harvest of righteousness Cof conformity
to God’s will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the
seed] sown in peace by those who work ἔοι and make
peace — in themselves and in others, [that is] that peace
which means concord (agreement, harmony, between in-
dividuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free
from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts.
876 JAMES 4
CHAPTER 4
HAT leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how
do conflicts Cquarrels and fightings) originate
among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires
that are ever warring in your bodily members?
2 You are jealous and covet [what others have] and
your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers.
("To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are con-
cerned]. You burn with envy and anger and are not able
to obtain [the gratification, the contentment and the
happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do
not have because you do not ask.
3. [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to re-
ceive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil,
selfish motives. Your intention is, [when you get what
you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.
4 You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love
affairs with the world] and ‘breaking your marriage vow
to God! Do you not know that being the world’s friend
is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend
of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.
5 Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking
to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused
to dwell in us yearns over us — and ‘He yearns for the
Spirit [to be welcome] — with a jealous love? [Jer. 3:14;
Hos. 2:19f.]
6 But He gives us more and more grace [“power of
the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all
others fully]. That is why He says, God sets Himself
against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [con-
ὉΪ Jno. 3:15. ¢Alternate reading. 4Adam Clarke.
JAMES 4 877
tinually] to the lowly —those who are humble-minded
[enough to receive it]. [Prov. 3:34.]
7 So be subject to God.—Stand firm against the
devil; resist him and he will flee from you.
8 Come close to God and He will come close to you.
[Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands
clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering in-
dividuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts
[of your spiritual adultery].
9 [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and
grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your
laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection
and heartfelt shame [for your sins].
10 Humble yourselves — feeling very insignificant —
in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. — He
will lift you up and make your lives significant.
11 [My] brethren, do not speak evil about or accuse
one another. He that maligns a brother or judges his
brother is maligning and criticizing the Law and judg-
ing the Law. But if you judge the Law, you are not
a practiser of the Law but a censor and judge [of it].
12 One only is the Lawgiver and Judge — [the One]
Who has the absolute power of life and death — Who is
able to save and to destroy. [But you], who are you that
[vou presume to] pass judgment on your neighbor?
13 Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we
will go into such and such a city and spend a year there
and carry on our business and make money.
14 Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what
may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your
life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor —a puff of
878 JAMES 5
smoke, a mist — that is visible for a little while and then
disappears [into thin air].
15 You ought instead to say, If the Lord is willing,
we shall live and we shall do this or that [thing].
16 But as it is, you boast [falsely] in your presump-
tion and your self-conceit. All such boasting is wrong.
17 So any person who knows what is right to do
but does not do it, to him it is sin.
CHAPTER 5
OME now, you rich [people], weep aloud and
lament over the miseries — the woes — that are sure-
ly coming upon you.
2 Your abundant wealth has rotted and is ruined and
your [many] garments have become moth-eaten.
3. Your gold and silver are completely rusted through,
and their rust will be testimony against you and it will
devour your flesh as if it were fire. You have heaped
together treasure for the last days.
4 [But] look! [Here are] the wages that you have
withheld by fraud from the laborers who have reaped
your fields, crying out (for vengeance), and the cries of
the harvesters have come to the ears of the Lord of hosts.
5 [Here] on earth you have abandoned yourselves to
soft (prodigal) living and to [the pleasures of] self-
indulgence and self-gratification. You have fattened your
hearts in a day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned, you have murdered the Cin-
nocent) righteous [man, while] he offers no resistance
to you.
7 80 be patient, brethren, [as you wait] till the com-
JAMES 5 879
-.»-..----- τὦἃ.ἅ...ὕ.ὕ...
ing of the Lord. See how the farmer waits expectantly
for the precious harvest from the land. [See how] he
keeps up his patient [vigil] over it until it receives the
early and late rains.
8 So you also must be patient. Establish your hearts
— strengthen and confirm them in the final certainty —
for the coming of the Lord is very near.
9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another,
so that you [yourselves] may not be judged. Look!
The Judge is [already] standing at the very door.
10 [As] an example of suffering and ill-treatment to-
gether with patience, brethren, take the prophets who
spoke in the name of [the] Lord — as His messengers.
11 You know how we call those blessed Chappy)
who were steadfast — who endured. You have heard of
the endurance of Job; and you have seen the Lord’s [pur-
pose and how He richly blessed him in the] end, in as
much as the Lord is full of pity and compassion and ten-
derness and mercy. [Job 1:21, 22; 42:10, Ps. 111:4.]
12 But above all [things], my brethren, do not
swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath;
but let your yes be [a simple] yes and your no be [a
simple] no, so that you may not sin and fall under
condemnation.
13 Is any one among you afflicted — ill-treated, suf-
fering evil? He should pray. Is any one glad at heart?
He should sing praise [to God].
14 Is any one among you sick? He should call in
the church elders — the spiritual guides. And they should
pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Lord’s name.
880 JAMES 5
15 And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him
that is sick, and the Lord will restore him; and if he has
committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16 Confess to one another therefore your faults —
your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins; and’
pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and
restored — to a spiritual tone of mind and heart. ‘The
earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man
makes tremendous power available—dynamic in _ its
working.
17 Elijah was a human being with a nature such as
we have — with feelings, affections and constitution as
ourselves; and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and
no rain fell on the earth for three years and six months.
[I Kin. 17:1.]
18 And [then] he prayed again and the heavens sup-
plied rain and the land produced its crops [as usual].
[I Kin. 18:42-45.]
19 [My] brethren, if anyone among you strays from
the Truth and falls into error, and another [person]
brings him back [to God],
20 Let the [latter] one be sure that whoever turns a
sinner from his evil course will save [that one’s] soul
from death and will cover a multitude of sins [that is,
‘procure the pardon of the many sins committed by the
convert ].
*Adam Clarke; jamieson, Fausset and Brown; Matthew Henry, and
many other translators.
THE FIRST LETTER
OF
PETER
CHAPTER 1
ETER, an apostle Ca special messenger) of Jesus
Christ, [writing] to the elect exiles of the disper-
sion scattered (sowed) abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cap-
padocia, Asia and Bithynia,
2 Who were chosen and foreknown by God the Father
and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Spirit
to be obedient to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and to be
sprinkled with [His] blood: May grace (spiritual bless-
ing) and peace be given you in increasing abundance —
that spiritual peace to be *realized in and through Christ,
bfreedom from fears, agitating passions and moral con-
flicts.
3. Praised Chonored, blessed be) the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah! By His boundless
mercy we have been born again to an ever liviny hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead;
4 [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond
the reach of change and decay (imperishable), unsullied,
and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God’s
power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that
‘final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in
the last time.
6 [You should] be exccedingly glad on this account,
though now for a little while you may be distressed by
trials and suffer temptations,
*Cremer. bWebster, in definition of ‘‘peace” in this sense. Williams.
881
882 1 PETER 1
7 So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be
tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious
than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by
fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to re
dound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus
Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, is revealed.
8 Without having seen Him you love Him; though
you do not [even] now see Him you believe in Him, and
exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (trium-
phant, heavenly) joy.
9 [At the same time] you receive the result Cout-
come, consummation ) of your faith, the salvation of your
souls.
10 The prophets who prophesied of the grace [divine
blessing] which was intended for you, searched and
inquired earnestly about this salvation.
11 They sought [to find out] to whom or when this
was to come which the Spirit of Christ working within
them indicated when He predicted the sufferings of
Christ and the glories that should follow [them].
12 It was then disclosed to them that the services
they were rendering were not meant for themselves and
their period of time, but for you. [It is these very]
things which have now already been made known plain-
ly to you by those who preached the good news (the
Gospel) to you by the [same] Holy Spirit sent from
heaven. Into these things [the very] angels long to look!
13 So brace up your minds; be sober — circumspect
[morally alert]; set your hope wholly and unchangeably
on the grace (divine favor) that is coming to you when
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is revealed.
1 PETER 1 883
14 [Live] as children of obedience [to God]; do not
conform yourselves to the evil desires [that governed
you] in your former ignorance [when you did not know
the requirements of the Gospel].
15 But as the One Who called you is holy, you your-
selves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of
living.
16 For it is written, You shall be holy, for I am
holy. [Lev. 11:44, 45.]
17 And if you call upon Him as [your] Father Who
judges each one impartially according to what he does,
[then] you should conduct yourselves with true rever-
ence throughout the time of your temporary residence
[on the earth, whether long or short].
18 You must know (recognize) that you were re
deemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of
living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not
with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold,
19 But [you were purchased] with the precious blood
of Christ, the Messiah, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb
without blemish or spot.
20 It is true that He was chosen and foreordained
(destined and foreknown for it) before the foundation
of the world, but He was brought out to public view
(made manifest.) in these last days — at the end of the
times — for the sake of you.
21 Through Him you believe — adhere to, rely on —
God, Who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him
honor and glory, so that your faith and hope are [cen-
tered and rest] in God.
22 Since by your obedience to the Truth through
884 1 PETER 2
the [Holy] Spirit you have purified your hearts for the
sincere affection of the brethren, [see that you] love one
another fervently from a pure heart.
23 You have been regenerated — born again — not
from a mortal "origin ( 5664, sperm) but from one that is
immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God.
24 Because all fesh [mankind, is] like grass and all
its glory Chonor) like [the] Hower of grass. The grass
withers, and the Hower drops off,
25 But the Word of the Lord [*divine instruction,
the Gospel] endures forever. And this Word is the good
news which was preached to you. [Is. 40:6-9.]
CHAPTER 2
O be done with every trace of wickedness (depravity,
malignity.) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense,
hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and
evil speaking of every kind.
2 Like newborn babies you should crave — thirst for,
earnestly desire —the pure Cunadulterated) spiritual
milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto
[completed] salvation;
3 Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and
kindness of the Lord. [Ps. 34:8.]
4 Come to Him [then, to that] Living Stone which
men “tried and threw away, but which is chosen [and]
precious in God’s sight. [Ps. 118:22; Is. 28:16.]
5 [Come] and as living stones be yourselves built
[into] a spiritual house, for a holy Cdedicated, conse-
crated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices
bThayer. ¢Abbott-Smith. cf. Moulton and Milligan. €Vincent.
1 PETER 2 885
[that are] acceptable and well-pleasing to God through
Jesus Christ.
6 For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am lay-
ing in Zion a chosen, (honored, ) precious chief Corner-
stone; and he who believes in Him — who adheres to,
trusts in and relies on Him — shall never be ‘disappointed
or put to shame. [[5. 28:16.]
7 To you then who believe — who adhere to, trust in
and rely on Him — [is] the preciousness; but for those
who disbelieve [it is true], The [very] Stone which the
builders rejected has become the main Cornerstone,
(Ps. 118:22.]
8 And a Stone that will cause stumbling and a Rock
that will give [men] offense; they stumble because they
disobey and disbelieve [God’s] Word, as those [who re-
ject Him] were destined (appointed) to do.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a
dedicated nation, [*God’s] own Spurchased, special people,
that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display
the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out
of darkness into His marvelous light. [Ex. 23:22.]
10 Once you were not a people [at all], but now you
are God's people; once you were unpitied, but now you
are pitied and have received mercy. [Hos. 2:23.]
11 Beloved, I implore you as sojourners, strangers
and exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual
urges — the evil desires, the passions of the flesh [your
lower nature] — that wage war against the soul.
12 Conduct yourselves properly Chonorably, righteous-
lv) among the Gentiles, so that although they may slan-
1Vjncent. e'Thayer. λον. eWycliffe.
886 1 PETER 2
der you as evildoers, [yet] they may by witnessing your
good deeds [come to] glorify God in the day of inspec-
tion [*when God shall look upon (you) wanderers, as
a pastor (shepherd) over his flock].
132 Be submissive to every human institution and
authority for the sake of the Lord, whether it be to the
emperor as supreme,
14 Or to governors as sent by him to bring vengeance
(punishment, justice) to those who do wrong, and to
encourage those who do good service.
15 For it is God’s will and intention that by doing
right [your] good and honest lives should silence (muz-
zle, gag) the ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms
of foolish persons.
16 [Live] as free people, [yet] without employing
your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but [live at all
times] as servants of God.
17 Show respect for all men — treat them honorably.
Love the brotherhood [the Christian fraternity of which
Christ is the Head]. Reverence God. Honor the em-
peror.
18 [You who are} household servants, be submissive
to your masters with all Cproper) respect, not only to
those who are kind, considerate avd reasonable but also
to those who are surly — overbearing, unjust and crooked.
19 For one is regarded favorably Cis approved, ac-
ceptable and thankworthy) if, as in the sight of God, he
endures the pain of unjust suffering.
20 [After all] what >kind of glory [is there in it] if
when you do wrong and are punished for it you take it
8], Rawson Lumby in ‘‘Speaker’s Commentary.” bLiteral meaning.
1 PETER 3 887
patiently? But if you bear patiently with suffering
(which results] when you do right and that is unde-
served, it is acceptable and well-pleasing to God.
21 For even to this were you called — it is inseparable
from your vocation. For Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you [His personal] example, so that you should
follow on in His footsteps.
22 He was guilty of no sin; neither was deceit
Cguile) ever found on His lips. ([Is. 53:9.]
23 When He was reviled and insulted, He did not
revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused
and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but He
trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges
fairly.
24 He personally bore our sins in His [own] body to
the tree *[as to an altar and offered Himself on it],
that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to
tighteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.
25 For you were going astray like [so many] sheep,
but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guar-
dian (the Bishop) of your souls. [[5. 53:5, 6.]
CHAPTER 3
N like manner you married women, be submissive to
your own husbands — subordinate yourselves as being
secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt your-
selves to them. So that even if any do not obey the Word
[of God], they may be won over not by discussion but
by the [godly] lives of their wives,
2 When they observe the pure and modest way in
*Vincent.
888 1 PETER 3
which you conduct yourselves, together with your "rever-
ence [for your husband. That is, you are to feel for him
all that reverence includes] — ‘to respect, defer to, revere
him; [revere means] ‘to honor, esteem (appreciate,
prize), and [in the human sense] adore him; [and adore
means] ‘to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love
and ‘enjoy [your husband].
3 Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning
with [elaborate] "interweaving and knotting of the hair,
the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes;
4 But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of
the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible
and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit,
which (is not anxious or wrought up, but) is very
precious in the sight of God.
5 For it was thus that the pious women of old who
hoped in God were (accustomed) to beautify themselves,
and were submissive to their husbands — adapting them-
selves to them as themselves secondary and dependent
upon them.
6 It was thus that Sarah obeyed Abraham (following
his guidance and acknowledging his headship over her
by) calling him lord — master, leader, authority. And
you are now her true daughters if you do right and let
nothing terrify you — not giving way to hysterical fears
or letting anxieties unnerve you.
7 In the same way you married men should live con-
siderately with [your wives], with an ‘intelligent recogni-
tion [of the marriage relation], honoring the woman as
[physically] the weaker, but [realizing that you] are
bThayer. ‘English synonyms of the preceding to-be-defined word.
4Vincent,
1 PETER 3 889
joint heirs of the grace CGod’s unmerited favor) of life,
in order that your prayers may not be hindered and cut
off. — Otherwise you cannot pray effectively.
8 Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same
mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with one an-
other], loving [each the others] as brethren Cof one
houschold), compassionate and courteous — tenderhearted
and humble-minded.
9 Never return evil for evil or insult for insult —
scolding, tongue-lashing, berating; but on the contrary
blessing — praying for their welfare, happiness: and _ pro-
tection, and truly pitying and loving them. For know
that to this you have been called, that you may your-
selves inherit a blessing [from God] — obtain a blessing
as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection.
10 For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good
days (good whether apparent or not), keep [his] tongue
free From evil, and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit).
11 Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it;
and let him do right. Let him search for peace —
harmony, undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions
and moral conflicts — and seek it eagerly. — Do not mere-
ly desire peaceful relations [with God, with your fellow-
men, and with yourself], but pursue, go after them!
12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous —
those who are upright and in right standing with God —
and His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face
of the Lord is against those who practise evil — to oppose
them, to frustrate and defeat them. [Ps. 34:12-16.]
890 1 PETER 3
13 Now who is there to hurt you if you are “zealous
followers of that which is good?
14 But even in case you should suffer for the sake of
righteousness, [you are] blessed — happy, to be envied.
Do not dread or be afraid of their threats, nor be dis-
turbed [by their opposition].
15 But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and
acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a
logical defense to any one who asks you to account for
the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and re-
spectfully. [Is. 8:12, 13.]
16 [And see to it that] your conscience is ‘entirely
clear, so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers,
those who threaten you abusively and revile your right
behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slander-
ing your good lives].
17 For [it is] better to suffer [unjustly] for doing
tight, if that should be God’s will, than to suffer [justly]
for doing wrong.
18 For Christ, the Messiah, [Himself] died for sins
once ‘for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous — the
Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty — that He
might bring us to God. In His human body He was put
to death but He was made alive in the spirit,
19 In which He went and preached to the spirits in
prison,
20 [The souls of those] who long before in the days
of Noah had been disobedient, when God’s patience
waited during the building of the ark in which a few
4IBest authorities read ‘‘zealous.”’ ®Vincent: ‘‘unimpaired.”
f'Thayer.
1 PETER 4 891]
[people], actually eight in number, were saved through
water, [Gen. 6-8.]
21 And baptism, which is a figure [of their deliver-
ance], does now also save you [from inward questionings
and fears], not by the removing of outward body filth
Cbathing), but by [providing you with] the answer of a
good and clear conscience [inward cleanness and peace]
before God, [because you are demonstrating what you be-
lieve to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
22 [And He] has now entered into heaven and is at
the right hand of God, with [all] angels and authori-
ties and powers made subservient to Him.
CHAPTER 4
O, since Christ suffered in the Hesh [for us, for you],
arm yourselves with the same thought and "purpose
[patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For
whoever has suffered in the Hesh [having ‘the mind of
Christ] has done with [intentional] sin — has stopped
pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God.
2 So that he can no longer spend the rest of his
natural life living by [his] human appetites and desires,
but [he lives] for what God wills.
3 For the time that is past already sufhces for doing
what the Gentiles like to do, living Cas you have done)
in shameless, insolent wantonness, in lustful desires,
drunkenness, reveling, drinking bouts and abominable,
lawless idolatries.
4 They are astonished and think it very queer that
you do not now run hand in hand with them in the
same excesses of dissipation, and they abuse [you].
®Some ancient authorities read ‘‘for us,’’ some “for you.’”” 4Abbott-Smith.
‘Cambridge Bible (— Gray and. Adams).
892 1 PETER 4
5 But they will have to give an account to Him Who
is ready to judge and pass sentence on the living and
the dead.
6 For this is why the good news (the Gospel.) was
preached [*in their lifetime] even to the dead, that
though judged in fleshly bodies as men are, they might
live in the spirit as God does.
7 But the end and culmination of all things has now
come near; keep sound-minded and self-restrained and
alert therefore for [the practice of] prayer.
8 Above all things have intense and unfailing love for
one another, for love covers a multitude of sins — forgives
and 'disregards the offenses of others. [Prov. 10:12.]
9 Practise hospitality to one another — that is, those
of the household of faith. (Be hospitable, that is, be a
lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the un-
known guests, the foreigners, the poor and all others who
come your way who are of Christ’s body.) And [in each
instance] do it ungrudgingly — cordially and graciously
without complaining [but as representing Him].
10 As each of you has received a gift Ca particular
spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it
for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-
sided grace — faithful stewards of the *extremely diverse
[powers and gifts granted to Christians by] unmerited
favor.
11 Whoever speaks, [let him do it as one who utters]
oracles of God; whoever renders service, [let him do it]
as with the strength which God furnishes "abundantly;
so that in all things God may be glorified through
«Many commentators. bThayer.
1 PETER 4 893
Jesus Christ, the Messiah. To Him be the glory and
dominion for ever and ever—through endless ages.
Amen — so be it.
12 Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the
ery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as
though something strange — unusual and alien to you
and your position — were befalling you.
13. But in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings,
rejoice, so that when His glory (full of radiance and
splendor) is revealed you may also rejoice with triumph
— exultantly.
14 If you are censured and suffer abuse [because you
bear] the name of Christ, blessed [are you] — happy, for-
tunate, *to be envied, »with life-joy and satisfaction in
God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward
condition — because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God,
is resting upon you. On their part He is blasphemed,
but on your part He is glorified. [Js. 11:2.]
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a
thief, or any sort of criminal; or as a mischief-maker (a
meddler) in the affairs of others — infringing on their
riglits.
16 But if [one is ill-treated and suffers] as a Chris-
tian [which he is contemptuously called], let him not be
ashamed, but give glory to God that he is [deemed
worthy] to suffer in this name.
17 For the time [has arrived] for judgment to begin
with the household of God; and if it begins with us,
what will [be] the end of those who do not respect or be-
lieve or obey the good news (the Gospel) of God?
Souter. bCremer.
894 1 PETER 5
18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will
become of the godless and wicked? [Prov. 11:31.]
19 Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in
accordance with God’s will must do right, and commit
their souls (in charge as a deposit) to the One Who
created them and will never fail [them].
CHAPTER 5
WARN and counsel the elders among you —the
pastors and spiritual guides of the church—as a
fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of
the sufferings of Christ, as well as a sharer in the glory
(the honor and splendor) that is to be revealed (dis-
closed, unfolded):
2 ‘Tend — nurture, guard, guide and fold —the flock
of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or
constraint but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by
the advantages and prohts [belonging to the office] but
eagerly and cheerfully.
3 Not (as arrogant, dictatorial and overbearing per-
sons) domineering over those in your charge, but being
examples — patterns and models of Christian living — to
the flock (the congregation).
4 And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed
you will win the ‘conqueror’s crown of glory.
5 Likewise you that are younger and of lesser rank
be subject to the elders—the ministers and spiritual
guides of the church, giving them due respect and yield-
ing to their counsel. Clothe Capron) yourselves, all of
you, with humility — as the garb of a servant, ‘so that
eVincent: “In Pau]... always the conqueror’s crown.” {Bengel.
1 PETER 5 895
its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with
freedom from pride and arrogance — toward one another.
For God sets Himself against the proud — the insolent,
the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the
boastful, and opposes, frustrates and defeats them — but
gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble. [Prov. 3:34.]
6 Therefore humble yourselves (demote, lower your-
selves in your own estimation) under the mighty hand
of God, that in due time He may exalt you.
7 Casting the 4whole of your care — all your anxieties,
all your worries, all your concerns, “once and for all — on
Him; for He cares for you affectionately, and cares about
you “watchfully. [Ps. 55:22.]
8 Be well-balanced — temperate, sober-minded; be
vigilant and cautious at all times, for that enemy of
vours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in
herce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.
9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [agaiist his onset],
— rooted, established, strong, immovable and determined
— knowing that the same (4identical) sufferings are ap-
pointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Chris-
tians) throughout the world.
10 And after you have suffered a little while, the
God of all grace — Who imparts all blessing and favor —
Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ
Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you
ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and
strengthen Cand settle) you.
4Vincent.
eMany ancient authorities so read,
896 1 PETER 5
11 To Him be the dominion — power, authority, rule
— forever and ever. Amen-—=so be it.
12 By Silvanus, a true Cloyal, consistent, incorrupti-
ble) brother, as I consider him, I have written briefly to
vou, to counsel and urge and stimulate [you] and to de-
clare [to you] that this is the true [account of the] grace
(the undeserved favor) of God. Be steadfast and per-
severe in it.
13 She [your sister-cchurch(?) here] in Babylon,
[who is] elect (chosen) with [yourselves], sends you
greetings, and [so does] my son (disciple) Mark.
14 Salute one another with a kiss of love — the sym-
bol of mutual affection. Το all of you that are in Christ
Jesus, the Messiah, may there be peace — *every kind of
peace (blessing), especially peace with God, and >free-
doin from fears, agitating passions and moral conflicts.
Amen — so be it.
¢Thayer. bWebster, in definition of ‘‘peace”’ in this sense.
THE SECOND LETTER
OF
PETER
CHAPTER 1
IMON Peter, a servant and apostle (special messen-
S ger) of Jesus Christ, to those who have received
Cobtained an equal privilege of) like precious faith with
ourselves in and through the righteousness of our God
and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 May grace (God’s favor) and peace, Cwhich is
*perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual
prosperity and freedom from fears and agitating pas-
sions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in (the
full, personal, ‘precise and correct.) knowledge of God
and of Jesus our Lord.
3 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all
things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godli-
ness, through the C‘full, personal) knowledge of Him
Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence
(virtue).
4 By means of these He has bestowed on us His
precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through
them you may escape (by flight) from the moral decay
Crottenness and corruption) that is in the world because
of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers
Cpartakers) of the divine nature.
5 For this very reason, ‘adding your diligence [to the
divine promises], employ every effort in ‘exercising your
faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian
“Matthew Henry. bWebster, defining “peace” in this sense.
«Vincent. 4Thayer.
897
898 2 PETER 1
energy); and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge
Cintelligence),
6 And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-
control; and in [exercising] self-control [develop] stead-
fastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising]
steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety),
7 And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly
affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [de-
velop] Christian love.
8 For as these qualities. are yours and increasingly
abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or
unfruitful unto the (full personal) knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One.
9 For whoever lacks these qualities is blind, [*spiri-
tually] shortsighted, "seeing only what is near to him;
and has become oblivious [of the fact] that he was
cleansed from his old sins.
10 Because of this, brethren, be all the more solicitous
and eager to make sure Cto ratify, to strengthen, to make
steadfast) your calling and election; for if you do this
you will never stumble or fall.
11 Thus there will be richly and abundantly provided
for you entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
12 So I intend always to remind you about these
things, although indeed [you] know them and are frm
in the truth that [you] now [hold].
13 I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle
(tent, body), to stir you up by way of remembrance;
14 Since I know that the laying aside of this body
®Vincent. bRotherham’s ‘‘Emphasized Bible.”
2 PETER 1 899
of mine will come speedily, as our Lord Jesus Christ
made clear to me.
15 Moreover, I will diligently endeavor [to see to it]
that [even] after my departure (decease) you may be
able at all times to call these things to mind.
16 For we were not following out cleverly devised
stories when we made known to you the power and
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, but we
were eyewitnesses of His majesty — grandeur, authority
of sovereign power.
17 For when He was invested with honor and glory
from God the Father and a voice was borne to Him by
the (splendid) Majestic Glory [in the bright cloud that
overshadowed Him, saying], This is My beloved Son
in Whom I am well pleased and delight,
18 We [actually] heard this voice borne out of heaven,
for we were together with Him on the holy mountain.
19 And we have the prophetic word [made] firmer
still. You will do well to pay close attention to it as to
a lamp shining in a dismal (squalid and dark) place,
until the day breaks through [the gloom] and the Morn-
ing Star rises ("comes into being) in your hearts.
20 [Yet] first [you must] understand this, that no
prophecy of Scripture is [a matter] of any personal or
private or special interpretation (loosening, solving).
21 For no prophecy ever originated because some
man willed it [to do so] —it never came by human im-
pulse — but as men spoke from God who were borne
along (moved and impelled) by the Holy Spirit.
* Abbott-Smith,
900 2 PETER 2
CHAPTER 2
| as also [in those days] there arose false prophets
among the people, just as there will be false teachers
among yourselves, who will subtly and stealthily in-
troduce heretical doctrines — destructive heresies — even
denying and disowning the Master Who bought them,
bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many will follow their immoral ways and las-
civious doings; because of them the true Way will be
maligned and defamed.
3 And in their covetousness (lust, greed) they will
exploit you with (cunning) false arguments. From of
old the sentence [of condemnation] for them has not
been idle; their destruction (eternal misery) has not been
asleep.
4 For God [even] spared not angels that sinned, but
cast them into hell, delivering them to be kept there in
pits of gloom till the judgment and their doom.
5 And He spared not the ancient world, but pre-
served Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven
other persons, when He brought a flood upon the world
of ungodly [people]. [Gen. 8:18; 6-8.]
6 And He condemned to ruin and extinction the
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, reducing them to ashes
[and thus] set them forth as an example to those who
would be ungodly. [Gen. 19:24.]
7 And He rescued righteous Lot, greatly worn out
and distressed by the wanton ways of the ungodly and
lawless. [Gen. 19:16, 29.]
8 For that just [man], living [there] among them,
2 PETER 2 901
tortured his righteous soul every day with what he saw
and heard of [their] unlawful and wicked deeds.
9 Now if [all these things be true, then be sure] the
lord knows how to rescue the godly out of temptations
and trials, and how to keep the ungodly under chastise-
ment until the day of judgment and doom;
10. And particularly those who walk after the flesh
and indulge in the lust of polluting passion, and scorn
and despise authority. Presumptuous and daring — self-
willed and self-loving [creatures]! They scoff at and
revile dignitaries (glorious ones) without trembling,
11 Whereas [even] angels, though superior in might
and power, do not bring a defaming charge against them
before the Lord.
12 But these [people]! Like unreasoning beasts,
mere creatures of instinct, born [only] to be captured
and destroyed, railing at things of which they are igno-
rant, they shall utterly perish in their [own] corruption
— in their destroying they shall surely be destroyed,
13 Being destined to receive [punishment as] the re-
ward of [their] unrighteousness — suffering wrong as the
hire for [their] wrongdoing. They count it a delight to
revel in the daytime — living luxuriously and delicately.
They are blots and blemishes, revelling in their >decep-
tions Cat love feasts) and carousing together [even] as
they feast with you.
14 They have eyes full of harlotry, insatiable for
sin. They beguile and bait and lure away unstable souls.
Their hearts are trained in covetousness — lust, greed.
[They are ‘exposed to cursing,] children of a curse!
bSome ancient authorities read ‘‘love feasts.” ¢Thayer.
902 2 PETER 2
15 Forsaking the straight road they have gone astray;
they have followed the way of Balaam, [the son] of Beor,
who loved the reward of wickedness. [Num. 22:5, 7.]
16 But he was rebuked for his own transgression
when a dumb beast of burden spoke with human voice
and checked the prophet’s madness. [Num. 22:21-31.]
17 ‘These are springs without water and mists driven
along before a tempest, for whom is reserved forever
the gloom of darkness.
18 For uttering loud boasts of folly, they beguile and
lure with lustful desires of the fesh those who are barely
escaping from them who are wrongdoers.
19 They promise them liberty, when they themselves
are the slaves of depravity and defilement, for by what-
ever anyone is made inferior or overcome or worsted, to
that [person or thing] he is enslaved.
20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of
the world through Cthe full, personal) knowledge of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again become en-
tangled in them and are overcome, their last condition
is worse [for them] than the frst.
21 For never to have obtained a Cfull, personal)
knowledge of the Way of righteousness would have been
better for them than, having obtained [such knowledge],
to turn back from the holy commandment which was
Cverbally) delivered to them.
22 There has befallen them the thing spoken of in
the true proverb, The dog turns back to his own vomit,
and the sow is washed only to wallow again in the mire.
[Prov. 26:11.]
2 PETER 3 903
CHAPTER 3
ELOVED, I am now writing you this second letter.
In [both of] them I have stirred up your unsullied
(sincere) mind by way of remembrance;
2 That you should recall the predictions of the holy
(consecrated, dedicated) prophets and the commandment
of the Lord and Savior [given] through your apostles,
[His] special messengers.
3 To begin with, you must know and understand this,
that scoffers Cmockers) will come in the last days with
scoffing; [people who] walk after their own feshly
desires
4 And saying, Where is the promise of His coming?
For since the forefathers fell asleep, all things have con-
tinued exactly as they did from beginning of creation.
5 For they wilfully overlook and forget this [fact],
that heavens [came into] existence long ago by the
word of God, and an earth also which was formed out
of water and by means of water,
6 ‘Through which the world that then [existed] was
deluged with water and perished. [Gen. 1:6-8; 7:11].]
7 But by the same word the present heavens and
earth have been stored up (reserved) for fire, being kept
until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly
people.
8 Nevertheless do not let this one fact escape you,
beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand
years, and a thousand years as one day. [Ps. 90:4.]
9 The Lord does not delay and be tardy or slow about
what He promises, according to some people’s conception
of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily
904 2 PETER 3
patient.) toward you, not desiring that any should perish,
but that all should turn to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief, and
then the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thun-
derous crash, and the [material] elements [of the uni-
verse] will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the
works that are upon it will be burned up.
11] Since all these things are thus *in the process of
being dissolved, what kind of (person) ought [each of]
you to be [in the meanwhile] in consecrated and holy be-
havior and devout and godly qualities?
12 While you wait and earnestly long for — expect-
ing and ‘hastening — the coming of the day of God bv
reason of which the Haming heavens will be dissolved,
and the [material] elements [of the universe] will flare
and melt with fire. [Is. 34:4.]
13 But we look for new heavens and a new earth
according to His promise, in which righteousness Cup-
rightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with
God) is to abide. [Js. 65:17; 66:22.]
14 So, beloved, since you are expecting these things,
be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without
spot or blemish, and at peace — in serene confidence, free
from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts.
15 And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord
[SHis slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the
world] is salvation, [δι δὲ which conduces to the soul’s
safety]; even as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to
you according to the spiritual insight given him,
16 Speaking of this as he does in all of his letters.
4Abbott-Smith. ®Vincent. fAlternate reading. sThayer.
2 PETER 3 905
There are some things in those [epistles of Paul] that
are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and un-
stable twist and misconstrue to their own "utter destruc-
tion, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of
the Scriptures.
17 Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that know-
ing these things beforehand, you should be on your
guard lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and
wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present]
firm condition — your own steadfastness [of mind].
18 But grow in grace Cundeserved favor, spiritual
strength) and ‘recognition and knowledge and under-
standing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the
Messiah. To Him [be] glory Chonor, majesty and splen-
dor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen — so
be it!
bThayer. 'Cremer.
THE FIRST LETTER
OF
JOHN
CHAPTER 1
E are writing] about the Word of Life [*in]
Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom
we have heard, Whom we have seen with our [own]
eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for ourselves] and
have touched with our [own] hands.
2 And the Life [8an aspect of His being] was re-
vealed (made manifest, demonstrated), and we saw (as
eyewitnesses) and are testifying to and declare to you
the Life, the eternal Life [*in Him] Who already existed
with the Father and Who [actually] was made visible —
was revealed — to us [His followers].
3 What we have seen and [ourselves] heard we are
also telling you, so that you too may ®realize and enjoy
fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this]
fellowship that we have (which is a *distinguishing mark
of Christians) is with the Father and with His Son Jesus
Christ, the Messiah.
4 And we are now writing these things to you so
that our joy [in seeing you included] may be full — and
byour joy may be complete.
5. And this is the message — the message of *promise
— which we have heard from Him and now are reporting
to you: God is Light and there is no darkness in Him
at all—‘no, not in any way.
6 [So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy
®Vincent. bMany ancient texts read ‘‘your joy.” ΕἸ iteral meaning.
906
1 JOHN 2 907
fellowship with Him when we live and move and are
walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely
and do not live and practise the Truth [of the Gospel].
7 But if we [really] are living and walking in the
Light as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true,
unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood
of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses Cremoves.) us from all
sin and guilt—keeps us cleansed from sin in all its
forms and manifestations.
8 If we say we have no sin — refusing to admit that
we are sinners— we delude and lead ourselves astray,
and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us
— does not dwell in our hearts.
9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and con-
fess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own
nature and promises] and will forgive our sins (dismiss
our lawlessness) and continuously cleanse us from all
unrighteousness — everything not in conformity to His
will in purpose, thought and action.
10 IE we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contra-
dict His Word and make Him out to be false and
a liar, and His Word is not in us — the divine message
of the Gospel is not in our hearts.
CHAPTER 2
Y little children, I write you these things so that
you may not violate God’s law and sin; but
if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (One Who
will intercede for us) with the Father; [it is] Jesus Christ
{the all] righteous — upright, just, Who conforms to the
Father’s will in every purpose, thought and action.
908 1 JOHN 2
2 And He—‘that same Jesus Himself — is the pro-
pitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins, and not for
ours alone but also for [the sins of} the whole world.
3 And this is how we may discern [‘daily by ex-
perience] that we are coming to know Him — to perccive,
recognize, understand and become better acquainted with
Him: if we keep Cbear in mind, observe, practise) His
teachings Cprecepts, commandments).
4 Whoever says, I know Him — I perceive, recognize,
understand and am acquainted with Him — but fails to
keep and obey His commandments Cteachings) is a liar,
and the Truth [4of the Gospel} is not in him.
5 But he who keeps [treasures} His Word — who
bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in
its entirety — truly in him has the love of and for God
been perfected (completed, reached maturity). By this
we may perceive and know and recognize and be sure
that we are in Him:
6 Whoever says he abides in Him ought — as ‘a per-
sonal debt — to walk and conduct himself in the same
way in which He walked and conducted Himself.
7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment,
but an old commandment which you have had from the
beginning; the old commandment is the message which
you have heard —the @doctrine [of salvation through
Christ].
8 Yet I am writing you a new commandment, which
is true — is realized —in Him and in you, because the
«Vincent. ¢Thayer.
1 JOHN 2 909
darkness (‘moral blindness) is clearing away and the true
Light [the revelation of God in Christ] is already
shining.
9 Whoever says he is in the Light and [yet] hates
his brother [Christian, “born-again child of God his own
Father] is in darkness even until now.
10 Whoever loves his brother [believer] abides
Clives) in the Light, and in It or in chim there is no oc-
casion for stumbling or cause for error or sin.
11 But he who hates Cdetests, despises) his brother
(tin Christ] is in darkness and walking Cliving) in the
dark; he is straying and does not perceive or know where
he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, little children, because for His
name’s sake your sins are forgiven — pardoned through
His name and on account of confessing His name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you have
come to know (recognize, be aware of and understand)
Him Who [has existed] from the beginniny. I am writ-
ing to you, young men, because you have been victor-
ious over the wicked [one]. I write to you, boys (lads),
because you have come to know and recognize and be
aware of the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers, because you have come
to know (recognize, be conscious of and understand)
Him Who [has existed] from the beginning. I write to
you, young men, because you are strong and vigorous, and
the Word of God is (always in your hearts) abiding in
vou, and you have been victorious over the wicked one.
‘Vincent. — 9Thayer. €Alternate reading, “‘it” or “him,”
f Abbott-Smith.
910 1 JOHN 2
15 Do not love or cherish the world or the things
that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love
for the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh
{craving for sensual gratification], and the lust of the
eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life
[assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of
earthly things] — these do not come from the Father but
are from the world [itself].
17 And the world passes away and disappears, and
with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires,
the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and
carries out His purposes in his life, abides (remains)
forever.
18 Boys (lads), it is the last time — hour [the end
of this age]. And as you have heard that Antichrist [he
who will oppose Christ in the guise of Christ] is coming,
even now many antichrists have arisen, which confirms
our belief that it is the final (the end) time.
19 ‘They went out from our number, but they did
not [really] belong to us; for if they had been of us, they
would have remained with us. But [they withdrew]
that it might be plain that they all are not of us.
20 But—you hold a sacred appointment, you have
been given an unction — you have been anointed by the
Holy One, and you all know [the Truth].
21 I write to you, not because you are ignorant and
do not perceive and know the Truth, but because you
do perceive and know it, and [know positively] that noth-
ing false — no deception, no lie —is of the Truth.
€Abbott-Smith.
1 JOHN 2 911
22 Who is [such a] liar as he who denies that Jesus
is the Christ, the Messiah? He is antichrist, (the an-
tagonist of Christ), who "habitually denies and refuses
to acknowledge the Father and the Son.
23 No one who "habitually denies Cdisowns) the
Son even has the Father. Whoever confesses (ac-
knowledges and has) the Son has the Father also.
24 As for you, keep in your hearts what you have
heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the
first dwells and remains in you, then you will dwell in
the Son and in the Father (always).
25 And this is what He Himself has promised us,
the life, the eternal [life].
26 I write this to you with reference to those who
would deceive you — seduce and lead you astray;
27 But as for you, (the sacred appointment, the unc-
tion) the anointing which you received from Him, abides
(permanently) in you; [so] then you have no need
that anyone should instruct you. But just as His
anointing teaches you concerning everything, and _ is
true, and is no falsehood, so you must abide — live, never
to depart ['rooted in Him, knit to Him] just as [your
anointing] has taught you [to do].
28 And now, little children, abide Clive, remain ‘per-
manently) in Him, so that when He is made visible, we
may have and enjoy perfect confidence (boldness, as-
surance) and not be ashamed and shrink from Him at
His coming.
29 If you know (perceive and are sure) that He
[Christ] is absolutely righteous (conforming to the
bY incent. '’Thayer.
912 1 JOHN 3
Father’s will in purpose, thought and action), you may
also know (be sure) that everyone who does righteously
[and is therefore in like manner conformed to the divine
will] is born (begotten) of Him [*God].
CHAPTER 3
EE what [an incredible] quality of love the Father
has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should
[be permitted to] be named and called and counted the
children of God! And so we are! ‘The reason that
the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us,
is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.
2 Beloved, we are [even here and] now God’s chil-
dren; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall
be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and
is manifested we shall [ἂς God’s children] resemble and
be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is.
3. And every one who has this hope [resting] on Him
cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure — chaste,
undefiled, guiltless.
4 Every one who commits (practises) sin is guilty
of lawlessness; for [that is what] sin is, lawlessness [the
breaking, violating of God’s law by transgression or
neglect; being unrestrained and unregulated by His
commands and His will].
5 You know that He appeared in visible form and
became Man to take away [upon Himself] sins, and in
Him there is no sin — essentially and forever.
6 No one who abides in Him — who lives and re-
“Westcott: When John thinks of fee in relation to men he never thinks
of Him apart from Christ.
¢Jamieson, Fausset and Brown.
1 JOHN 3 913
mains in communion with and in obedience to Him,
[deliberately and knowingly] "habitually commits Cprac-
tises) sin. No one who habitually sins has either seen
or known Him — recognized, perceived or understood
Him, or has had an experimental acquaintance with
Him.
7 ‘Boys Clads), let no one deceive and lead you
astray. He who practises righteousness — who is up-
right, conforming to the divine will in purpose, thought
and action, living a consistently conscientious life — is
righteous, even as He is righteous.
8 [But] he who commits sin Cwho practises evil
doing) is of the devil — takes his character from the evil
one; for the devil has sinned Chas violated the divine
law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God
was made manifest (visible) was to undo Cdestroy, loosen
and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].
9 No one born (begotten) of God [deliberatcly and
knowingly] Phabitually practises sin, for God’s nature
abides in him — His principle of life, the divine sperm,
remains permanently within him — and he cannot prac-
tise sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.
10 By this it is made clear who take their nature
from God and are His children, and who take their
nature from the devil and are his children: no one
who does not practise righteousness — who does not con-
form to God’s will in purpose, thought and action — is
of God; neither is anyone who does not love his
brother [his fellow “believer in Christ].
11 Because this is the message — the announcement —
bVincent. ¢ Abbott-Smith. 4 Thayer.
914 1 JOHN 3
which you have heard from the first, that we should love
one another,
12 [And] not be like Cain who [took his nature and
got his motivation] from the evil one and slew his
brother. And why did he slay him? Because his deeds
(activities, works) were wicked and malicious and his
brother’s were righteous — virtuous.
13 Do not be surprised and wonder, brethren, that
the world detests and pursues you with hatred.
14 We know that we have passed over out of the
death into the Life by the fact that we love the brethren,
[our fellow Christians]. He who does not love abides —
remains, is ‘held and kept continually —in [spiritual]
death.
15 Anyone who (Cabominates, detests) hates his
brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer, and you
know that no murderer has eternal life abiding (Cper-
severing) within him.
16 By this we come to know — progressively to recog-
nize, to perceive, to understand the [essential] love:
that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought
to lay four] lives down for [those who are our]
brothers [tin Him].
17 But if anyone has this world’s goods — resources
for sustaining life — and sees his brother and ‘fellow be-
liever in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against
him, how can the love of God live and remain in him?
18 Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory
or in speech but in deed and in truth — in practice and
in sincerity.
¢ Thayer.
1 JOHN 3 915
19 By this we shall come to know — perceive and
recognize and understand — that we are of the Truth, and
can reassure (quiet, conciliate and pacify) our hearts in
His presence
20 In whatever our hearts in [“tormenting] self-ac-
cusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. For [4we
are in God’s hands]; He is above and greater than our
consciences Cour hearts), and He knows (perceives and
understands) everything — nothing is hidden from Him.
21 And, beloved, if our consciences Cour hearts) do
not accuse us — if they do not make us feel guilty and
condemn us— we have confidence (complete assurance
and boldness) before God;
22 And we receive from Him whatever we ask for,
because we (4watchfully) obey His orders — observe His
suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us — and
Cthabitually) practise what is pleasing to Him.
23 And this is His order CHis command, His in-
junction), that we should believe — put our faith and
trust in and adhere to and rely — on the name of His Son
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and that we should love one
another, just as Ele has commanded us.
24 All who keep His commandments (who obey His
orders and follow His plan, live and continue to live, to
stay and) abide in Him, and He in them. — *They let
Christ be a home to them and they are the home of
Christ. And by this we know and understand and have
the proof that He [really] lives and makes His home in
us, by the CHoly) Spirit Whom He has given us.
9Vincent. *After Bede.
916 1 JOHN 4
CHAPTER 4
| eevee do not put faith in every spirit, but
prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they pro-
ceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth
into the world.
2 By this you may know (perceive and recognize) the
Spirit of God: every spirit which acknowledges and con-
fesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, [actual-
ly] has become man and has come in the flesh is of God
— has God for its source.
3. And every spirit which does not acknowledge and
confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh [but
would "annul, destroy, sever, disunite Him] is not of
God — does not proceed from Him. This [*non-confes-
sion] is the [spirit] of antichrist, [of] which you heard
that it was coming, and now it is already in the world.
4 Little children, you are of God — you belong to
Him — and have [already] defeated and overcome them
[the agents of antichrist], because He Who lives in you
is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.
5 ‘They proceed from the world and are of the world,
therefore it is out of the world [its ‘whole economy moral-
ly considered] that they speak, and the world listens
(pays attention) to them.
6 We are [children] of God. Whoever is learning
to know God — progressively to perceive, recognize and
understand God [by observation and experience] and to
‘get an ever clearer knowledge of Him — listens to us;
and he who is not of God does not listen or pay atten-
«An ancient reading. bThe Vulgate translation. ¢Vincent.
1 JOHN 4 917
tion to us. By this we know (recognize) the Spirit of
Truth and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another; for love [springs ]
from God, and he who loves [his fellow men] is begotten
Cborn) of God and is coming Cprogressively) to know
and understand God — to perceive and recognize and get
a better and clearer knowledge of Him.
8 He who does not love has not become acquainted
with God — does not and never did know Him; for God
is love.
9 In this the love of God was made manifest (Cdis-
played), where we are concerned, in that God sent His
Son, the only-begotten or unique [Son], into the world
so that we might live through Him.
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that
He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the
atoning sacrifice) for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God loved us so [very much], we also
ought to love one another.
12 No man has at any time [yet] seen God. But if
we love one another, God abides (lives and remains)
in us and His love [that love which is essentially His]
is brought to completion — to its full maturity, runs its
full course, is perfected — in us!
13 By this we come to know (perceive, recognize and
understand) that we abide (live and remain) in Him
and He in us: because He has given (imparted) to us
of His CHoly) Spirit.
14 And [besides] we ourselves have seen [have de-
liberately and steadfastly contemplated], and bear wit-
4Moulton and Milligan.
918 } JOHN 4
ness that the Father has sent the Son [as the] Saviour
of the world.
15 Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that
Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His
home) in him, and he Cabides, lives, makes his home)
in God.
16 And we know Cunderstand, recognize, are con-
scious of, by observation and by experience), and be-
lieve Cadhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love
God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells
and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and
God dwells and continues in him.
17 In this [union and communion with Him] love is
brought to completion and attains perfection with us,
that we may have confidence for the day of judgment —
with assurance and boldness to face Him — because as He
is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love — dread does not exist;
but full-grown (complete, perfect) love "turns fear out of
doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear *brings
with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is
afraid has not reached the full maturity of love —is not
yet grown into love's complete perfection.
19 We love Him, because He first loved us.
20 If anyone says, I love God, and Cdetests, abom-
inates) hates his brother [in Christ], he is a liar; for he
who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot
love God Whom he has not seen.
21 And this command (charge, order, injunction)
we have from Him, that he who loves God shall love
his brother [*believer] also.
“Thayer, bVincent.
1 JOHN 5 919
CHAPTER 5
| Dyce one who believes — adheres to, trusts in and
relies [on the fact] — that Jesus is the Christ, the
Messiah, is a born-again child of God; and every one
who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him —
His offspring. |
2 By this we come to know (recognize and under-
stand) that we love the children of God: when we love
God and obey His commands — orders, charges; when
we keep His ordinances and are mindful of His pre-
cepts and His teaching.
3 For the [true] love of God is this, that we do His
commands — keep His ordinances and are mindful of His
precepts and teaching. And these orders of His are
not irksome — burdensome, oppressive or grievous.
4 For whatever is born of God is victorious over the
world; and this is the victory that conquers the world,
even our faith.
5 Who is it that is victorious over (that conquers)
the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of
God — who adheres to, trusts in and relies [on that fact]?
6 This is He Who came by Cwith) water and blood
[PHis baptism and His death], Jesus Chiist, the Messiah;
not by Cin) the water only but by Cin) the water and the
blood.
7 And it is the CHoly) Spirit Who bears witness, be-
cause the CHoly) Spirit is the Truth.
8 So there are three witnesses in heaven, the Father,
the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One;
and there are three witnesses on the earth, the Spirit,
bVincent.
920 1 JOHN 5
the water and the blood; and these three agree — are in
unison, their testimony coincides.
9 JE we accept [as we do] the testimony of men Cif
we are willing to take human authority), the testimony
of God is greater (stronger authority), for this is the testi-
mony of God even the witness which He has borne re-
garding His Son.
10 He who believes in the Son of God — who adheres
to and trusts in and relies on Him, possesses this divine
attestation — has the testimony within himself. He who
does not believe God Cin this way) has made Him out to
be and represented Him as a liar, because he has not
believed — put his faith in and adhered to and relied
on the testimony — the evidence that God has borne re-
garding His Son.
11 And this is that testimony — that evidence: God
gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12 He who possesses the Son has that life; he who
does not possess the Son of God does not have that
life.
13 I write this to you who believe in (adhere to,
trust in and rely on) the name of the Son of God — that
is, in *the peculiar services and blessings conferred by
Him on men — so that you may know (with settled and
absolute knowledge) that you [already] have life, "yes,
eternal life.
14 And this is the confidence — the assurance, the
[privilege of] boldness — which we have in Him: [we
are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request.) ac-
«Thayer. bWestcott in Speaker’s Commentary.
1 JOHN 5 921
cording to His will Gin agreement with His own plan)
Ile listens to and hears us.
15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He
listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with
settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted
us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.
16 If anyone sees his brother [believer] committing a
sin that does not [lead to] death [the extinguishing of
life], he will pray and (God) will give him life — yes, He
will grant life to all those whose sin is not [one leading]
to death. There is a sin [that leads] to death; I do
not say that one should pray for that.
17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin which does
not [involve] death—that may be repented of and
forgiven.
18 We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God
does not [deliberately and knowingly] practise commit-
ting sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully
watches over and protects him — Christ’s divine presence
within him preserves him against the evil —and the
wicked one does not lav hold Cget a grip) on him or
touch [him].
19 We know [positively] that we are of God,
and the whole world [around us] is under the power
of the evil one.
20 And we [have seen and] know positively that the
Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has
given us understanding and insight progressively to per-
ceive (recognize) and come to know better and more
clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is
922 1 JOHN 5
true, in His Son Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He is the
true God and Life eternal.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols — false
gods, [from anything and everything that would occupy
the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of
substitute for Him that would take first place in your
life]. Amen. So let it be.
THE
SECOND LETTER
OF
JOHN
HE elderly elder [of the church addresses this letter]
to the elect (chosen) lady CCyria) and her children,
whom I truly love, and not only I but also all who are
progressively learning to recognize and know and under-
stand the Truth,
2 Because of the Truth which lives and stays on
in our hearts and will be with us forever:
3. Grace (spiritual blessing), mercy and soul-peace
will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus
Christ, the Messiah, the Father’s Son, in all sincerity
(truth) and love.
4 I was greatly delighted to find some of your chil-
dren walking (living) in [the] Truth, just as we have
been commanded by the Father [Himself].
5 And now I beg you, lady CCyria), not as if I were
issuing a new charge Cinjunction or command), but
[simply recalling to your mind] the one we have had
from the beginning, that we love one another.
6 And what this love consists in is this, that we
live and walk in accordance with and guided by His
commandments — His orders, ordinances, precepts, teach-
ing. This is the commandment, as you have heard from
the beginning, that you continue to walk in love —
guided by it and following it.
7 For many imposters — seducers, deceivers and false
leaders — have gone out into the world, men who will
923
924 2 JOHN
not acknowledge (confess, admit) the coming of Jesus
Christ, the Messiah, in bodily form; such a one is the im-
poster — the seducer, the deceiver, the false leader, the
antagonist of Christ — and the Antichrist.
8 — Take care; look to yourselves that you may not
lose (throw away or destroy) all that we and you have
labored for, but that you may [persevere until you] win
and receive back a perfect reward — in full.
9 Anyone who runs on ahead [of God] and does
not abide in the doctrine of Christ — who is not content
with what He taught — does not have God; but he who
continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ —
does have God; he has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this
doctrine Cis disloyal to what Jesus Christ taught), do not
receive him—do not accept him, do not welcome or
admit him — into [your] house or bid him Godspeed or
give him any encouragement.
11 For he who wishes him success — who encourages
him, wishing him Godspeed — is a partaker in his evil
doings.
12 Although I have many things to write to you, I
prefer not to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to
come to see you and talk with you by word of mouth,
so that our joy may be complete.
132 The children of your elect (chosen) sister wish
to be remembered to you. Amen. So be it.
THE
THIRD LETTER.
OF
JOHN
Τ᾽ elderly elder [of the church addresses this
letter] to the Cesteemed)) beloved Gaius, whom |
truly love.
2 Beloved, 1 pray that you may prosper in every
way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I
know] your soul keeps well and prospers.
3 In fact, I greatly rejoiced [when some of] the
brethren from time to time arrived and spoke [so highly]
of the sincerity and fidelity of vour life, as indeed you
do live in the Truth [the whole Gospel presents].
4] have no greater joy than this, to hear that my
{spiritual] children are living their lives in the Truth.
> Beloved, it is a fne and faithful work that you are
doing when you give any service to the [Christian]
brethren, and [especially when they are] strangers.
6 They have testified before the church of your love
and friendship. You will do well to forward them on
their journey, [and you will please do so] in a way
worthy of God's [service].
7 For these [traveling missionaries | have gone out for
the Name's sake — for His sake — and are accepting noth-
ing from the heathen (the Gentiles, the non-Israelites).
8 So we ourselves ought to support such people — to
welcome and provide for them — in order that we may
be fellow workers in the Truth (the whole Gospel) and
co-operate with its teachers.
925
9 I have written briefly to the church; but Diot-
rephes, who likes to take the lead among them and put
himself frst, does not acknowledge my authority and
refuses to accept my suggestions or to listen to me.
10 So when J arrive, I will call attention to what he
is doing, his boiling over and casting malicious reflec-
tions upon us with insinuating language. And not
satished with that, he refuses to receive and welcome
the [missionary] brethren himself, and also interferes
with and forbids those who would welcome them, and
tries to expel (excommunicate) them from the church.
11] Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good.
He who does good is of God; he who does evi! has not
seen (discerned or experienced) God — has enjoyed no
vision of Him and does not know Him at all.
12 Demetrius has warm commendation from every-
one, and from the Truth itself; we add our testimony
also, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 I had much [to say to you when I began] to
write, but I prefer not to put it down with pen (a reed)
and ink;
14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together
by word of mouth.
15 [Goodbye!] Peace be to you! ‘The friends here
send you greetings. Remember me to the friends there,
(to every one of them personally) by name.
THE
LETTER
OF
JUDE
UDE, a servant of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and
brother of James, [writes this letter] to those who are
called Cchosen), dearly loved by God the Father C*and
separated, set apart), and kept for Jesus Christ:
2 May mercy, soul-peace and love be multiplied to
you.
3 Beloved, my whole concern was to write to you
in regard to our common salvation. [But] I found it
necessary and was impelled to write you and urgently
appeal to and exhort [you] to contend for the faith
which was once for all "handed down to the saints —
the faith [which is that sum of Christian belief] which
was delivered verbally to the holy people of God.
4 For certain men have crept in stealthily — ‘gaining
entrance secretly by a side [door]. Their doom was
predicted long ago, (impious, profane.) ungodly persons
who pervert the grace (the spiritual blessing and favor)
of our God into lawlessness and wantonness and im-
morality, and disown and deny our sole Master and
Lord, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One.
5 Now I want to remind you, though you were
fully informed once for all, that though the Lord [at one
time] delivered a people out of the land of Egypt, He
subsequently destroyed those [of them] who did not
“Some texts so read. bAbbotrt-Smith. ¢Meaning of the verb.
927
928 JUDE
believe — who [refused] to adhere to, trust in and rely
upon Him.
6 And angels that did not keep (care for, guard and
hold to) their own first place of power but abandoned
their proper dwelling place, He has reserved in custody.
in eternal chains (bonds) under the thick gloom of utter
darkness until the judgment and doom of the great day.
7 Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the adjacent
towns, which likewise gave themselves over to impurity
and indulged in unnatural vice and sensual perversity,
are laid out [in plain sight] as an exhibit of perpetual
punishment [to warn] of everlasting fire [the wicked are
sentenced to suffer]. [Gen. 19.]
8 Nevertheless in like manner these dreamers also
corrupt the body, scorn and reject authority and govern-
ment, and revile and libel and scoff at [heavenly] glories
(the glorious ones).
9 But when [even] the archangel Michael, contend-
ing with the devil, judicially argued (disputed) about
the body of Moses, he dared not (presume to) bring an
abusive condemnation against him, but [simply] said,
The Lord rebuke you! [Zech. 3:2.]
10 But these men revile (scoff and sneer at) anything
they do not happen to be acquainted with and do not
understand; and whatever they do understand physically,
[that which they know by mere instinct] like irrational
beasts, by these they corrupt themselves and are de-
stroyed (perish).
11 Woe to them! For they have run riotously in
the way of Cain, and have abandoned themselves for
the sake of gain [it offers them] to the error of Balaam,
JUDE 929
ind have perished in rebellion [like that] of Korah!
[Gen. 4:3-8; Num. 22-24; 16.]
12 ‘These are Celements of danger,) hidden reefs in
your love feasts, where they boldly feast sumptuously —
carousing together [in your midst] — without scruple
providing for themselves [alone]. They are clouds with-
out water, swept along by the winds, trees without fruit
at the late autumn gathering time, twice (doubly) dead,
[lifeless and] plucked up by the roots;
13 Wild waves of the sea, flinging up the foam of
their own shame and disgrace; wandering stars for whom
the gloom of eternal darkness has been reserved forever.
14 It was of these people moreover that Enoch in
the seventh [generation] from Adam prophesied when
le said, Behold, the Lord comes with His myriads of
holy ones — ten thousands of His saints;
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convict all
the impious Cunholy ones) of all their ungodly deeds
which they have committed [in such an] ungodly [| way],
and of all the severe — abusive, soul-jarring — things
which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.
16 These are inveterate murmurers (grumblers), that
complain [of their lot in life], going after their own de-
sires — controlled by their passions; their talk is boastful
and arrogant, [and they claim to] admire men’s persons
and pay people flattering compliments to gain advantage.
17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions
which were made by the apostles (the special messengers )
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One.
18 They told you beforehand, In the last days Cin
the end time) there will be scoffers — who seek to gratify
930 JUDE
their own unholy desires — following after their own
ungodly passions.
19 It is these who are (agitators) setting up distinc-
tions and causing divisions; merely sensual [creatures]
— carnal, worldly-minded people — devoid of the CHoly)
Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual life.
20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded]
on your most holy faith —‘*make progress, rise like an
edifice higher and higher — praying in the Holy Spirit;
21 (Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God;
expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, [which will bring you] unto
life eternal.
22 And (‘refute [so as to] convict some who dis-
pute with you, and) on some have mercy who waver
and doubt.
23 [Strive to] save others, snatching [them] out of
[the] fire; on others take pity [but] with fear, loathing
even the garment spotted by the flesh and polluted by
their sensuality. [Zech. 3:2-4.]
24 Now to Him Who is able to keep you without
stumbling, or slipping, or falling and to present [you]
unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the
presence of His glory — with unspeakable, ecstatic delight
—in triumphant joy and exultation,
25 To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus
Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might
and dominion, and power and authority, before all time
and now and forever —unto all the ages of eternity.
Amen — so be it.
¢Quoted by Thayer. 4Some ancient authorities so read.
THE REVELATION
TO
JOHN
CHAPTER |!
HIS is] the revelation of Jesus Christ — His un-
| veiling of the divine mysteries. God gave it to
Him to disclose and make known to His bond servants
certain things which must shortly and speedily come to
pass Jin their entirety. And He sent and communicated
it through His angel Cmessenger) to His bond servant
John,
2 Who has testified to and vouched for all that he
saw [‘in his visions], the Word of God and the testi-
mony of Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed Chappy, to be envied) is the man who reads
aloud [in the assemblies] the word of this prophecy;
and blessed Chappy, ‘to be envied) are those who hear
[it read] and who keep themselves true to the things
which are written in it — heeding them and laying them
to heart — for the time [for them to be fulfilled] is near.
4 John to the seven assemblies (churches) that are
in Asia: May grace CGod’s unmerited favor) be granted
to you and spiritual peace ['the peace of Christ’s king-
dom] from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to
come. And from the seven Spirits — that is, ™the seven-
fold Holy Spirit — before His throne. {[Is. 11:2.]
5 And from Jesus Christ the faithful and trustworthy
Witness, the First-born of the dead [that is, first to be
1Vincent. kSouter.
1Abbott-Smith, ‘“Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.”
™Trench and many others.
931
932 REVELATION 1
brought back to life] and the Prince (Ruler) of the
kings of the earth. To Him Who ‘ever loves us and has
‘once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His
own blood, [Ps. 89:27.]
6 And formed us into a kingdom [a royal race],
priests to His God and Father, to Him be the glory and
the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout
the ages and forever and ever. Amen, so be it. [Ex.
19:6; Is. 61:6.]
7 Lo, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye
will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the
tribes of the earth shall gaze upon Him and beat their
breasts and mourn and lament over Him. Even so [must
it be]. Amen—so be it. [Dan. 7:13; Zech. 12:10.]
8 I am the Alpha and the Omega the Beginning
and the End, says the Lord God, He Who is and Who
was and Who is to come, the Almighty — the Ruler of
all. [Is. 9:6.]
9 I, John, your brother and companion — sharer and
participator — with you in the tribulation and kingdom
and patient endurance [which are] in Jesus Christ, was
on the isle called Patmos, [banished] on account of [my
witnessing to] the Word of God and the testimony — the
proof, the evidence — for Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit — rapt in His power — on the
Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a great voice like
the calling of a ‘war trumpet,
11 Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
First and the Last. Write promptly what you see (your
vision) in a book and send it to the seven churches
¢ Williams: ‘‘ever’’ and “οὔποθ found in the tenses. 4 Vincent.
REVELATION 1 933
hich are in Asia—to Ephesus and to Smyrna and
' Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to
hiladelphia and to Laodicea.
12 Then I turned to see [whose was] the voice that
ras speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden
impstands,
13. And in the midst of the lampstands [One] like a
on of man, clothed with a robe which reached to His
2et and with a girdle of gold about His breast. [Dan.
713; 10:5.]
14 His head and His hair were white like white
‘ool, [as white] as snow, and His eyes [flashed] like a
ame of fire. [Dan. 7:9.]
15 His feet glowed like Cbright,) burnished bronze as
is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the
yund of many waters. [Dan. 10:6.]
16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and from
lis mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword,
nd His face was like the sun shining in full power at
idday. [Ex. 34:29.]
17 When I saw Him I fell at His feet as if dead.
‘ut He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be
fraid! 1 am the First and the Last, [Is. 44:2, 6.]
18 And the Ever-living One—I am living in the
ternity of the eternities. I died, but see, I am alive for
vermore; and I possess the keys of Death and Hades
the realm of the dead].
19 Write therefore the things you see, what they are
and signify], and what is to take place hereafter.
20 As to the hidden meaning (the mystery) of the
sven stars which you saw on My right hand and the
934 REVELATION 2
seven lampstands of gold, the seven stars are the seven
angels (messengers) of the seven churches (assemblies)
and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
CHAPTER 2
O the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church)
in Ephesus write: ‘These are the words of Him
Who holds the seven stars [which are the messengers
of the seven churches] in His right hand, Who goes
about among the seven golden lampstands [which are
the seven churches].
2 I know your industry and activities, laborious toil
and trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you
cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and criti-
cally appraised those who call [themselves] apostles
(special messengers [of Christ] and yet are not, and
have found them to be imposters and liars.
3 I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing
up for My name's sake, and you have not fainted or
become exhausted or grown weary.
4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you,
that you have left Cabandoned) the love that you had at
first — you have deserted [Me], your frst love.
5 Remember then from what heights you have fallen.
Repent — change the inner man to meet God’s will — and
do the works you did previously [when first you knew
the Lord]. Or else I will visit you and remove your
lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind
and repent.
6 Yet you have this — in your favor and to your credit
— you detest the works of the Nicolaitans [what they are
REVELATION 2 935
loing as corrupters of the people], which I Myself also
letest.
7 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and give
reed to what the Spirit says to the assemblies (the
hhurches). To him who overcomes Cis victorious) I
vill grant to eat [of the fruit} of the tree of life, which
s in the paradise of God. [Gen. 2:9; 3:24.]
8 And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly
‘church) in Smyrna write, These are the words of the
“irst and the Last, Who died and came to life again:
‘Is. 44:6.)
9 I know your affliction and distress and pressing
rouble, and your poverty; but you are rich! and how
you are abused and reviled and slandered by those who
say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of
Satan.
10 Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. — Dis-
miss your dread and your fears! Behold, the devil is
indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you
nay be tested and proved and critically appraised; and
for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful
unto death — [that is], even if you must die for it — and
[ will give you the crown of life. [Dan. 12:3.]
11 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed
what the Spirit says to the assemblies (the churches).
He who overcomes Cis victorious) shall in no way be
injured by the second death.
12 Then to the angel (messenger) of the assembly
(church) in Pergamum write: These are the words of
Him Who has and wields the sharp two-edged sword.
936 REVELATION 2
13 I know where you live, a place where Satan sits
enthroned. [Yet] you are clinging to and holding fast
My name and you did not deny My faith even in the
days of Antipas My witness, My faithful one, who was
killed, [martyred] in your midst where Satan dwells.
14 Nevertheless I have a few things against you:
you have some people there who are clinging to the
teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to set a trap and
a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, [to entice
them] to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and
to practise lewdness — giving themselves up to sexual
vice. [Num. 31:16; 25:1, 2.]
15 You also have some who in a similar way are
clinging to the teaching of the Nicolaitans [those cor-
rupters of the people], which thing I hate.
16 Repent [then]! Or else I will come to you quickly
and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and
heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (the
churches). ‘To him who overcomes Cwho conquers) I
will give to eat of the manna that is hidden, and 1 will
give him a white stone, with a new name engraved on
the stone which no one knows or understands except
he who receives it. [Ps. 78:24; Is. 62:2.]
18 And to the angel (the messenger) of the assembly
(church) in Thyatira write: These are the words of
the Son of God, Who has eyes that flash like a flame of
fire, and Whose feet glow like bright and burnished and
white-hot bronze. [Dan. 10:6.]
19 I know your‘record and what you are doing, your
love and faith and service and patient endurance, and
REVELATION 2 937
that your recent works are more numerous and greater
than your first ones.
20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate the
woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess (claiming
to be inspired), and who is teaching and leading astray
my servants and beguiling them into practising sexual
vice and eating food sacrificed to idols. [I Kin. 16:3];
Il Kin. 9:22, 30.]
21 I gave her time to repent, but she has no desire
to repent (Pout) of her immorality [symbolic of idolatry]
and refuses to do so.
22 Take note: I will throw her on a bed [‘of
anguish], and those [her paramours] who commit
adultery with her I will bring down to "pressing distress
and severe aflliction, unless they turn away their minds
from conduct [such as] hers and repent of (*their) doings.
23 And I will strike her children [her proper fol-
lowers] dead — thoroughly exterminating them. And all
the assemblies (the churches) shall recognize and under-
stand that I am He Who searches minds — the thoughts,
feelings and purposes—and the [inmost] hearts, and
I will give to each of you [the reward for what you have
done] as your work deserves. [Jer. 17:10; Ps. 62:12.]
24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not
hold this teaching, who have not explored and known the
depths of Satan, as they say, I tell you that 1 do not lay
upon you any other (fresh) burden;
25 Only hold fast to what you have until I come.
26 And He who overcomes, Cis victorious) and who
obeys My commands to the [very] end — doing the works
bLiteral meaning. ¢Vincent. 4dMany ancient authorities so read.
938 REVELATION 3
{that please Me] —I will give him authority and power
over the nations;
27 And he shall rule them with a sceptre (rod) of
iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, and [his
power over them shall be] like that which 1 Myself have
received from My Father; [Ps. 2:8, 9.]
28 And I will give him the Morning Star.
29 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed
what the CHoly) Spirit says to the assemblies Cthe
churches).
CHAPTER 3
ND to the angel (the messenger) of the assembly
(the church) in Sardis write: These are the words
of Him Who has the seven Spirits of God [that is, *the
sevenfold Holy Spirit] and the seven stars: I know
your record and what you are doing; you are supposed
to be alive, but [in reality] you are dead.
2 Rouse yourselves and keep awake, and strengthen
and invigorate what remains and is on the point of dying;
for I have not found a thing that you have done — any
work of yours — meeting the requirements of My God or
perfect in His sight.
3 So call to mind the lessons you received and heard;
continually lay them to heart avd obey them, and repent.
In case you will not rouse yourselves and keep awake and
watch I will come upon you like a thief, and you will
not know or suspect at what hour I will come.
4 Yet you still have a few [persons’] names in Sardis
®Trench.
REVELATION 3 939
who have not soiled their clothes, and they shall walk
with Me in white, because they are worthy and deserving.
5 Thus shall he who conquers Cis victorious) be
clad in white garments, and I will not erase or blot out
his name from the Book of Life; I will acknowledge him
fas Mine], and I will confess his name openly before My
Father and before His angels. [Ps. 69:28; Dan. 12:1,]
6 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed
what the CHoly) Spirit says to the assemblies (the
churches ).
7 And to the angel (the messenger) of the assembly
(the church) in Philadelphia write: These are the words
of the Holy One, the True One, He Who has the key of
David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and
no one shall open. [Is. 22:22.]
8 I know your [record of] works and what you are
doing. Sce! I have set before you a door wide open,
which no one is able to shut; 1 know that you have but
little power, and yet you have kept My Word and
guarded My message, and have not renounced or denied
My name.
9 Take note! I will make those of the synagogue
of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie,
behold, I will make them come and bow down before
your feet, and learn and acknowledve that I have loved
you. [Is. 60:14; 49:23; 43:4.]
10 Because you have guarded and kept My word of
patient endurance — have held fast the lesson of My
patience with the expectant endurance that I give you
—I also will keep you (safe) from the hour of trial
b Greek, ‘‘of my endurance;” ‘‘a patient, steadfast waiting for’? (Thayer).
940 REVELATION 3
(testing) which is coming on the whole world, to try
those who dwell upon the earth.
11 1 am coming quickly; hold fast what you have,
so that no one may rob you and deprive you of your
crown.
12 He who overcomes Cis victorious), I will make
him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God; he shall never
be put out of it or go out of it, and I will write on him
the name of My God, and the name of the city of My
God, the new Jerusalem which descends from My God
out of heaven, and My own new name. [ls. 62:2; Ezek.
48:35.]
13 He who can hear, let him listen to and heed what
the Spirit says to the assemblies (the churches).
14 And to the angel (messenger, of the assembly
(the church) in Laodicea write: These are the words
of the Amen, the trusty and faithful and true Witness,
the Origin and Beginning and Author of God’s creation.
fIs. 55:4; Prov. 8:22.]
15 I know your [record of] works and what you are
doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you
were cold or hot!
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold
nor hot, I will spue you out of My mouth!
17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered and
grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and do
not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitia-
ble, poor, blind and naked. [Hos. 12:8.]
18 Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me
gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly]
wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the
REVELATION 4 941
shame of your nuditv from being seen, and salve to put
on vour eyes that you may see.
19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell
their faults and convict and convince and reprove and
chasten — [that is], I discipline and instruct them. So be
enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal, and
repent — changing your mind and attitude. [Prov. 3:12.]
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone
hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the
door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and
he [shall eat] with Me.
21 He who overcomes Cis victorious), I will grant
him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself over-
came (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father
on Ilis throne.
22 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed
what the CHoly) Spirit says to the assemblies (the
churches).
CHAPTER 4
A F'TER this I looked, and lo, a door standing open
in heaven! And the first voice, which i had heard
addressed to me like [the calling of] a ‘war trumpet,
said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take
place in the future.
2 At once | caine under the CHoly) Spirit's power,
and lo, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the
throne! [Ezek. 1:26.]
3 And He Who sat there appeared like [the crystalline
brightness of] jaspar and [the fiery] sardius, and en-
4 Vincent.
942 REVELATION 4
circling the throne there was a halo that looked like [a
rainbow of] emerald. [Ezek. 1:28.]
4 Twenty-four other thrones surrounded the throne
and seated on these thrones were twenty-four elders,
[πὲ members of the heavenly Sanhedrin], arrayed in
white clothing, with crowns of gold upon their heads.
5 Out from the throne came flashes of lightning
and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the
throne seven blazing torches burned, which are the
seven Spirits of God [the sevenfold CHoly) Spirit];
6 And in front of the throne there is also what looks
like a transparent glassy sea, as if of crystal. And around
the throne, in the center at each side of the throne, are
four living creatures Cones, or beings) that are full of
eyes in front and behind [with intelligence as to what
is before and at the rear of them]. [Ezek. 1:5, 18.]
7 The first living creature Cone, or being) was like a
lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third
living creature had the face of a man, and the fourth
living creature [was] like a flying eagle. [Ezek. 1:10.]
8 And the four living creatures, individually having
six wings, are full of eyes all over and within [under-
neath their wings]; and day and night they never stop
saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty
COmnipotent), Who was and Who is and Who is to
come. [ls. 6:1-3.]
9 And whenever the living creatures offer glory and
honor and thanksgiving to Him Who sits on the throne,
Who lives forever and ever — through the eternities of the
eternities— [Ps. 47:8.]
*Berry’s ‘“‘Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament,” and others.
bRichard of St. Victor, cited by Trench.
REVELATION 5 943
10 The twenty-four elders [*the members of the
heavenly Sanhedrin} fall prostrate before Him Who is
sitting on the throne and they worship Him Who lives
forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns
before the throne, crying out,
11 Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive
the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created
all things; by Your will they were [brought into being]
and were created. [Ps. 19:1.]
CHAPTER 5
A ND I saw lying on the "open hand of Him Who
was seated on the throne a (book) scroll written
within and on the back, closed and sealed with seven
seals; [Ezek. 2:9, 10; Is. 29:11; Dan. 12:4.]
2 And I saw a strong angel announcing in a loud
voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll? And — who is
entitled and deserves and is morally fit—to break its
seals?
3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the
earth {in the realm of the dead, Hades] was able to
open the scroll or to take a [single} look at its contents.
4 And I wept audibly and bitterly because no one
was found fit to open the scroll or to inspect it.
5 Then one of the elders ["of the heavenly Sanhe-
drin] said to me, Stop weeping! See, the Lion of the
tribe of Judah, the ‘Root CSource) of David, has won —
has overcome and conquered! He can open the scroll
and break its seven seals! [Gen. 49:9, 10; Is. 11:1, 10.]
6 And there between the throne and the four living
‘Berry. bVincent. cRev. 22:16.
944 REVELATION 5
creatures Cones, or beings) and among the elders [*of
the heavenly Sanhedrin], I saw a Lamb standing, as
though it had been slain, with seven horns and with
seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God [that is,
bthe sevenfold Holy Spirit] Who have been sent [on
duty far and wide] into all the earth. [Is. 53:7; Zech.
4:10; 3:8, 9.]
7 He then went and took the scroll from the right
hand of Him Who sat on the throne.
8 And when He had taken the scroll! Cbook), the
four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [*of
the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves before the
Lamb. Each was holding a harp [lute or guitar], and
they had golden bowls full of incense [fragrant spices
and gums for burning], which are the prayers of God's
people — the saints.
9 And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are
worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are
on it, for You were slain (sacrificed) and with your
blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe
and language and people and nation. [Ps. 33:3.]
10 And You have made them a kingdom [royal race]
and priests to our God, and they shall reign [as kings]
over the earth! [Ex. 19:6; Is. 61:6.]
11] Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many
angels on every side of the throne, and of the living
creatures and the elders [*of the heavenly Sanhedrin],
and they numbered ten thousand times ten thousand and
thousands of thousands. [Dan. 7:10.]
*Berry’s ‘“‘Greck-English Lexicon to the New Testament,” and others.
>Vincent,
REVELATION 6 945
12 Saying in a loud voice, Deserving is the Lamb
that was sacrificed, to receive all the power and riches
and wisdom and might and honor and majesty (glory,
splendor) and blessing!
13 And I heard every created thing in heaven and
on carth and under the earth [in Hades, the place of
departed spirits] and on the sea and all that is in it,
crying out together, To Him Who is seated on the throne
and to the Lamb be ascribed the blessing and the honor
and the majesty (glory, splendor) and the power (might
and dominion) forever and ever — through the eternities
of the eternities! [Dan. 7:13, 14.]
14 Then the four living creatures Cones, or beings)
said, Amen — so be it! and the elders ["ο the heavenly
Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves and worshipped Him
Who lives forever and ever.
CHAPTER 6
HEN I saw as the Lamb broke open one of the
seven seals, and as if in a voice of thunder I| heard
one of the four living creatures cal! out, Come!
2 And I looked, and saw there a white horse whose
rider carried a bow. And a crown was given him, and
he rode forth conquering and to conquer. [Zech. 1:8;
6:1-3; Ps. 45:4, 5.]
3 And when He broke the second seal, I heard the
second living creature cal] out, Come!
4 And another horse came out, flaming red. And its
rider was empowered to take the peace from the earth,
“Berry’s ‘‘Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament,” and others.
946 REVELATION 6
so that men slaughtered one another; and he was given
a huge sword.
5 When He broke open the third seal, I heard the
third living creature call out, Come and look! And
I saw, and behold, a black horse, and in his hand the
tider had a pair of scales (a balance).
6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice from the
midst of the four living creatures saying, A quart of
wheat for a denarius [a whole day’s wages], and three
quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not harm the oil
and the wine! [II Kin. 6:25.]
7 When the Lamb broke open the fourth seal, I
heard the fourth living creature call out, Come!
8 So I looked, and behold, an ashy pale horse [black
and blue as if made so by bruising], and its rider's name
was Death, and Hades [the realm of the dead] followed
him closely; and they were given authority and power
over a fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword and
with famine and with plague (pestilence, disease) and
with wild beasts of the earth. [Hos. 13:14, Ezek. 5:12.]
9 When the Lamb broke open the fifth seal, I saw at
the foot of the altar the souls of those whose lives had
been sacrificed for [adhering to] the Word of God and
for the testimony they had borne.
10 They cried in a loud voice, O (Sovereign) Lord,
holy and true, how long now before You will sit in judg-
ment and avenge our blood upon those who dwell on
the earth? [Zech. 1:12; Ps. 79:5; Gen. 4:10.]
11 Then they were each given a ‘long and flowing
and festive white robe and told to rest and wait patiently
bDefinition of “livid,’”? symbolizing death and pestilence. Vincent.
REVELATION 7 947
a little while longer, until the number should be com-
plete of their fellow servants and their brethren, who
were to be killed as they themselves had been.
12 When He [the Lamb] broke open the sixth seal,
I looked, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun
grew black as sackcloth of hair, (the full disc of) the
moon became like blood. [Joel 2:10, 31.]
13. And the stars of the sky dropped to the earth
like a fig tree shedding its unripe fruit out of season
when shaken by a strong wind. [15. 34:4.]
14 And the 4sky rolled up like a scroll and vanished,
and every mountain and island was dislodged from its
place.
15 Then the kings of the earth and their noblemen
and their magnates and their military chiefs and the
wealthy and the strong and [everyone, whether] slave
or free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks
of the mountains, [ls. 2:10.]
16 And they called to the mountains and the rocks,
Fall on Cbefore) us and hide us from the face of Him
Who sits on the throne, and from the deep-seated indig-
nation and wrath of the Lamb. [Hos. 10:8; Is. 2:19-21.]
17 For the great day of His wrath Cvengeance,
retribution, indignation) has come, and who is able to
stand before it? [Joel 2:11; Mal. 3:2.]
CHAPTER 7
FTER this I saw four angels stationed at the four
corners of the earth, ‘firmly holding back the four
winds of the earth, so that no wind should blow on
the earth or sea or upon any tree. [Zech. 6:5.]
4 Moulton and Milligan. f Vincent.
948 REVELATION 7
2 Then I saw a second angel coming up from the
east (the rising of the sun), and carrying the seal of
the living God. And with a loud voice he called out to
the four angels who had been given authority and
power to injure earth and sea,
3. Saying, Harm neither the earth nor the sea nor
the trees, until we have sealed the bond servants of our
God upon their foreheads. [Ezek. 9:4.]
4 And [then] I heard how many were sealed
(marked) out of every tribe of the sons of Israel; there
were a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed.
5 ‘Twelve thousand were sealed (marked) out of the
tribe of Judah, twelve thousand of the tribe of Reuben,
twelve thousand of the tribe of Gad,
6 ‘Twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher, twelve
thousand of the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand of
the tribe of Manasseh,
7 Twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, twelve
thousand of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand of the
tribe of Issachar,
8 ‘Twelve thousand of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve
thousand of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand of the
tribe of Benjamin.
9 After this I looked and a vast host appeared which
no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from
all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before
the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in
white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
10 In loud voice they cried, saying, [Our] salvation
is due to our God Who is seated on the throne, and to
the Lamb — to Them [we owe our] deliverance!
REVELATION 7 949
11 And all the angels were standing round the throne
and round the elders [*of the heavenly Sanhedrin] and
the four living creatures, and they fell prostrate before
the throne and worshipped God.
12 Amen! (So be it!) they cried. Blessing and glory
and majesty and splendor and wisdom and thanks and
honor and power and might [be ascribed] to our God
to the ages and ages — forever and ever, throughout the
cternities of the eternities! Amen! CSo be it!)
13 Then, addressing me, one of the elders [*of the
heavenly Sanhedrin] said, Who are these [people]
clothed in the long white robes? And from where have
they comer
14 I replied, Sir, you know. And he said to me,
These are they who have come out of the great tribula-
tion (persecution), and have washed their robes and
made them white in the blood of the Lamb. [Dan. 12:1];
Gen. 49:11.]
15 For this reason they are [now] before the [very]
throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His
(temple) sanctuary; and He Who is sitting upon the
throne will protect and spread His tabernacle over and
shelter them with His presence.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any
more, neither shall the sun smite them, nor any scorch-
ing heat. [Is. 49:10; Ps. 121:6.]
17 For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne
will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to the
springs of the waters of Life; and God will wipe every
a ised from their eyes. [Ezek. 34:23; Ps. 23:2; Is.
25:8.
“Souter: ‘‘A Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament,’’ and others.
erry: ‘“‘Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament,” and others.
950 REVELATION 8
CHAPTER 8
WwW He [the Lamb] broke open the seventh
seal, there was silence for about half an hour in
heaven.
2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before
God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
3. And another angel came and stood over the altar.
He had a golden censer, and he was given very much
incense [fragrant spices and gums which exhale per-
fume when burned], that he might mingle it with the
prayers of all the people of God (the saints) upon the
altar of gold before the throne. [Ps. 141:2.]
4 And the smoke of the incense (the perfume) arose
in the presence of God with the prayers of the people
of God Cthe saints) from the hand of the angel.
5 So the angel took the censer and filled it with fire
from the altar and cast it upon the earth. Then there
followed thunder peals and loud rumblings and blasts
and noises, and lightning flashes, and an earthquake.
[Lev. 16:12; Ezek. 10:2.]
6 ‘Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets
prepared to sound them.
7 The first angel blew [his] trumpet, and there was
a storm of hail and fire mingled with blood, cast upon
the earth. And a third part of the earth was burned up,
and a third of the trees was burned up and all the
green grass was burned up. [Ex. 9:23-25.]
8 ‘The second angel blew his trumpet, and something
resembling a great mountain, blazing with fre, was
hurled into the sea. [Jer. 51:25.]
9 And a third of the sea was turned to blood, a
REVELATION 9 951
third of the living creatures in the sea perished, and a
third of the ships were destroyed.
10 ‘The third angel blew [his] trumpet, and a huge
star fel] from heaven, burning like a torch, and it dropped
on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
11 And the name of the star is Wormwood. A third
part of the waters was changed into wormwood, and
many people died from using the water, because it had
become bitter.
12 Then the fourth angel blew [his] trumpet, and a
third of the sun was smitten, and a third of the moon,
and a third of the stars, so that [the light of] a third of
them was darkened, and a third of the daylight [itself]
was withdrawn and likewise a third [of the light] of
the night was kept from shining.
13 Then I [looked and I] saw a solitary eagle fying
in midheaven, and as it flew I heard it crying with a
loud voice, Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the
earth, because of the rest of the trumpet blasts which the
three angels are about to sound!
CHAPTER 9
HEN the fifth angel blew [his] trumpet, and I
saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth,
and to the angel was given the key ®of the shaft of the
abyss — the bottomless pit.
2 He opened the £long shaft of the abyss —the bot-
tomless pit — and smoke like the smoke of a huge furnace
puffed out of the “long shaft, so that the sun and the at-
§ Vincent,
952 REVELATION 9
mosphere were darkened by the smoke from the long
shaft. [Gen. 19:28; Ex. 19:18; Joel 2:10.]
3 Then out of the smoke locusts came forth on the
earth, and such power was granted them as the power
the earth’s scorpions have. [Ex. 10:12-15.]
4 They were told not to injure the herbage of the
earth nor any green thing nor any tree, but only [to
attack] such human beings as do not have the seal (mark)
of God on their foreheads. [Ezek. 9:4.]
5 They were not permitted to kill them, but to
torment Cdistress, vex) them for five months, and the
pain caused them was like the torture of a scorpion when
it stings a person.
6 And in those days people will seek death and will
not find it, and they will yearn to die, but death evades
and flees from them. [Job 3:21].]
7 The locusts resembled horses equipped for battle.
On their heads was something like golden crowns. Their
faces resembled the faces of people. [Joel 2:4.]
8 ‘They had hair like the hair of women, and their
teeth were like lions’ teeth. [Joel 1:6.]
9 Their breastplates [scales] resembled breastplates
made of iron, and the [whirring] noise made by their
wings was like the roar of a vast number of horse-drawn
chariots going at full speed into battle. [Joel 2:5.]
10 ‘They have tails like scorpions, and they have
stings, and in their tails lies their ability to hurt men for
(the) five months.
11 Over them as king they have the angel of the
abyss — of the bottomless pit. In Hebrew his name is
REVELATION 9 953
Abaddon [destruction], but in Greek he is called Apolly-
on [destroyer].
12 The first woe (calamity) has passed; lo, two
others are yet to follow.
13 Then the sixth angel blew [his] trumpet, and
from the four horns of the altar of gold which stands
before God I heard a solitary voice,
14 Saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet,
Liberate the four angels who are bound at the great
river Euphrates.
15 So the four angels, who had been in readiness for
that hour in the appointed day, month and year, were
liberated to destroy a third of mankind.
16 The number of their troops of cavalry was twice
ten thousand times ten thousand (200,000,000); I heard
what their number was.
17 And in [my] vision the horses and their riders ap-
peared to me like this: the riders wore breastplates the
color of hery red and sapphire blue and sulphur Cbrim-
stone) yellow. The heads of the horses looked like
lions’ heads, and from their mouths there poured fire
and smoke and sulphur (brimstone).
18 A third of mankind was killed by these three
plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the sulphur
(brimstone) that poured from the mouths of the horses.
19 For the power of the horses to do harm is in their
mouths and also in their tails. Their tails are like ser-
pents, for they have heads, and it is by means of them
that they wound people.
20 And the rest of humanity, who were not killed
by these plagues, even then did not repent Cout) of [the
954 REVELATION 10
worship of] the works of their [own] hands, so as to
cease paying homage to the demons and idols of gold
and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which can
neither see nor hear nor move. [ls. 17:8; Ps. 115:47;
135:15-17.]
21 And they did not repent Cout) of their mur-
ders or their practice of magic (sorceries) or their sexual
vice or their thefts.
CHAPTER 10
HEN I saw another mighty angel coming down
from heaven, robed in a cloud, with a [halo like a]
rainbow over his head; his face was like the sun, and his
feet [legs] were like columns of fre.
2 He had a little book (scroll) open in his hand.
He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on
the land,
3. And he shouted with a loud voice like the roaring
of a lion; and when he had shouted, the seven thunders
gave voice and uttered their message in distinct words.
4 And when the seven thunders had spoken
(sounded), I was going to write [it down], but I heard a
voice from heaven saying, Seal up what the seven
thunders have said! Do not write it down!
5 Then the [mighty] angel whom I had seen sta-
tioned on sea and land raised his right hand to heaven
Cthe "sky), [Deut. 32:40, Dan. 12:6, 7.]
6 And swore in the name of (by) Him Who lives
forever and ever, Who created the heavens (®sky) and all
they contain, and the earth and al] that it contains, and
b Abbott-Smith.
REVELATION 11 955
the sea and all that it contains. [He swore] that no
more time should intervene and there should be no more
waiting or delay,
7 But that when the days come that the trumpet
call of the seventh angel is about to be sounded, then
God’s mystery — His secret design, His hidden purpose
— as He had announced the glad tidings to His servants
the prophets, should be fulfilled Caccomplished, com-
pleted). [Dan. 12:6, 7.]
8 Then the voice that I heard from heaven spoke
again to me, saying, Go and take the little book (scroll)
which is open on the hand of the angel who is standing
on the sea and on the land.
9 So I went up to the angel and asked him to give me
the little book. And he said to me, Take it and eat it.
It will embitter your stomach, though in your mouth it
will be sweet as honey. [Ezek. 2:8, 9; 3:1-3.]
10 So I took the little book from the angel’s hand
and ate and swallowed it; it was sweet as honey in my
mouth, but once 1 had swallowed it my stomach was
embittered.
11 ‘Then they said to me, You are to make a fresh
prophecy concerning many peoples and races and nations
and languages and kings. [Jer. 1:10.]
CHAPTER 11
A REED [as a measuring rod] was then given to me,
[shaped] like a staff, and I was told: Rise up and
measure the sanctuary of God and the altar [of incense],
and [number] those who worship there; [Ezek. 40:3.]
956 REVELATION 11
2 But leave out of your measuring the court outside
the sanctuary of God; omit that, for it is given over to
the Gentiles (the nations), and they will trample the
holy city under foot for forty-two months [three and
one-half years]. [Zech. 12:3; Is. 63:18.]
3 And I will grant the power of prophecy to My
two witnesses for twelve hundred and sixty days [forty-
two months; three and one-half years], dressed in sack-
cloth.
4 ‘These [witnesses] are the two olive trees and the
two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the
earth. [Zech. 4:3, 11-14.]
5 And if any one attempts to injure them, fire pours
from their mouth and consumes their enemies; if any
one should attempt to harm them, thus he is doomed to
be slain. [II Kin. 1:10; Jer. 5:14.]
6 These [two witnesses] have power to shut up the
sky, so that no rain may fall during the days of their
prophesying [their “prediction of events relating to
Christ’s kingdom and its speedy triumph] and they
also have power to turn the waters into blood, and to
smite and scourge the earth with all manner of plagues,
as often as they choose. [I Kin. 17:1; Ex. 7:17, 19.]
7 But when they have finished their testimony and
their evidence is all in, the beast (monster) that comes
up out of the abyss (bottomless pit) will wage war
on them and conquer them and kill them. [Dan. 7:3,
7, 21.]
8 And their dead bodies [will lie exposed] in the
open street ('a public square) of the great city which
= Thayer. bSouter,
REVELATION 11 957
is in a spiritual sense called by the mystical and allegorical
names of Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was
crucified. ([Is. 1:9.]
9 For three and a half days men from the races and
tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead
bodies and will not allow them to be put in a tomb.
10 And those who dwell on the earth will gloat and
exult over them and rejoice exceedingly, taking their
ease and sending presents (in congratulation) to one an-
other, because these two prophets had been such a vexa-
tion and trouble and torment to all the dwellers on the
earth,
11 But after three and a half days, by God’s gift
the breath of life again entered into them, and they
rose up on their feet and great dread and terror fell on
those who watched them. [Ezek. 37:5, 10.]
12 Then [the two witnesses] heard a strong voice
from heaven calling to them, Come up here! And
before the very eyes of their enemies they ascended into
heaven in a cloud. [II Kin. 2:11.]
13. And at that [very] hour there was a tremendous
earthquake and one tenth of the city was destroyed
(fell); seven thousand people perished in the earthquake,
and those who remained were filled with dread and
terror and were awe-struck, and they glorified the God
of heaven.
14 The second woe (calamity) has passed; now the
third woe is speedily to come.
15. The seventh angel then blew his trumpet and
there were mighty voices in heaven, shouting, The do-
minion (kingdom, sovereignty, rule) of the world has now
958 REVELATION 12
come into the possession and become the kingdom of
our Lord and of His Christ, the Messiah, and He shall
reign forever and ever — for the eternities of the eterni-
ties! [Ps. 22:28, Dan. 7:13, 14, 27.]
16 Then the twenty-four elders [of "the heavenly
Sanhedrin] who sit on their thrones before God pros-
trated themselves before Him and worshipped,
17 Exclaiming, To You we give thanks, Lord God
Omnipotent, Who are and [ever] were, for assuming the
high sovereignty and the great power that are Yours and
beginning to reign.
18 And the heathen (the nations) raged, but Your
wrath (retribution, indignation) came, the time when
the dead will be judged and to reward Your servants, the
prophets and saints, and those who revere (fear) Your
name, both low and high and small and great; and
[the time] for destroying the corrupters of the earth.
[Ps. 2:1.]
19 ‘Then the sanctuary of God in heaven was thrown
open, and the ark of His covenant was seen standing
inside in His sanctuary; and there were lightning
flashes, loud rumblings (blasts, mutterings), peals of
thunder, an earthquake, and a terrific hailstorm. [I Kin.
8:1-6.]
CHAPTER 12
A ND a great sign [wonder warning of future events
of ominous significance] appeared in heaven, a
woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under
“Souter, and others,
REVELATION 12 959
her feet, and with a crownlike garland Ctiara) of twelve
stars on her head.
2 She was pregnant and she cried out in her birth
pangs, in the anguish of her delivery.
3 Then another ominous sign Cwonder) was seen
in heaven. Behold, a huge, fiery-red dragon, with seven
heads and ten horns, and seven kingly crowns (diadems)
upon his heads. [Dan. 7:7.]
4 His tail swept [across the sky] and dragged down
a third of the stars, and flung them to the earth. And
the dragon stationed himself in front of the woman who
was about to be delivered, so that he might devour her
child as soon as she brought it forth. [Dan. 8:10.]
5 And she brought forth a male Child, One Who is
destined to shepherd Crule) all the nations with an iron
staff (scepter), and her Child was caught up to God
and to His throne. [Ps. 2:8, 9; 110:1, 2.]
6 And the woman [herself] fled into the desert Cwil-
derness), where she has a retreat prepared [for her] by
God, in which she is to be fed and kept safe for one
thousand two hundred and sixty days [forty-two months;
three and one-half years].
7 Then war broke out in heaven, Michael and his
angels going forth to battle with the dragon; and the
dragon and his angels fought,
8 But they were defeated and there was no room
found for them in heaven any longer.
9 And the huge dragon was cast down and out, that
ages-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he
who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the
world over; he was forced out and down to the earth,
960 REVELATION 12
and his angels were flung out along with him. [Gen.
3:1, 14, 15; Zech. 3:1.]
10 Then I heard a strong voice in heaven, saying,
Now it has come, the salvation and the power and the
kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God and
the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ,
the Messiah; for the accuser of our brethren, he who
keeps bringing before our God charges against them day
and night, has been cast out! [Job 1:9-11.]
11 And they have overcome (conquered) him by
means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of
their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life
even when faced with death — holding their lives cheap
till they had to die [for their witnessing].
12 ‘Therefore be glad Cexult), O heavens and you that
dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for
the devil has come down to you in fierce anger (fury),
because he knows that he has [only] a short time [left]!
[Is. 44:23; 49:13.]
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast
down to the earth, he went in pursuit of the woman who
had given birth to the male Child.
14 But the woman was supplied with the two wings
of a giant eagle, so that she might fly from the presence
of the serpent into the desert Cwilderness, to the retreat)
where she is to be kept safe and fed for a time, and
times, and half a time [three and one-half years, or
twelve hundred sixty days]. [Dan. 7:25; 12:7.]
15 ‘Then out of his mouth the serpent spouted forth
water like a flood after the woman, that she might be
carried off with the torrent.
REVELATION 13 961
16 But the earth came to the rescue of the woman,
and the ground opened its mouth and swallowed up the
stream of water which the dragon had spouted from his
mouth.
17 So then the dragon was furious (enraged) at the
woman, and he went away to wage war on the remainder
of her descendants, [on those] who obey God’s com-
mandments and who have the testimony of Jesus
Christ — and adhere to it and ‘bear witness to Him.
CHAPTER 13
S] 4I stood on the sandy beach, I saw a beast
coming up out of the sea with ten horns and seven
heads. On his horns he had ten royal crowns (diadems)
and blasphemous titles (names) on his heads.
2 And the beast that I saw resembled a leopard, his
feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth was like that
of a lion. And to him the dragon gave his [own] might
and power, and his [own] throne and great dominion.
3 And one of his heads seemed to have a deadly
wound. But his death stroke was healed, and the whole
earth went after the beast in amazement and admiration.
4 They fell down and did homage to the dragon,
because he had bestowed on the beast all his dominion
and authority; they also praised and worshipped the beast,
exclaiming, Who is a match for the beast, and who can
make war against him?
5 And the beast was given the power of speech,
uttering boastful and blasphemous words, and he was
given freedom to exert his authority and to exercise his
°Williams. 9Many ancient authorities read ‘“‘he.”
962 REVELATION 13
will during forty-two months [three and a half years].
[Dan. 7:8.]
6 And he opened his mouth to speak slanders against
God, blaspheming His name and His abode, [even
vilifying] those who live in heaven.
7 He was further permitted to wage war on Gaod’s
holy people (the saints) and to overcome them. And
power was given him to extend his authority over every
tribe and people and tongue and nation, [Dan. 7:21, 25.]
8 And all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down
in adoration and pay him homage, every one whose name
has not been recorded from the foundation of the world
in the Book of Life of the Lamb that was slain [in sacri-
fice] *from the foundation of the world.
9 If any one is able to hear, let him listen:
10 Whoever leads into captivity will himself go into
captivity; if any one slays with the sword, with the
sword must he be slain. Herein is [the call for] the
patience and the faith and fidelity of the saints CGod’s
people). [Jer. 15:2.]
11 Then I saw another beast rising up out of the
land [itself]; he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke
Croared)) like a dragon.
12 He exerts all the power and right of control of
the former beast in his presence, and causes the earth
and those who dwell upon it to exalt and deify the first
beast, whose deadly wound was healed, and worship him.
13 He performs great signs —startling miracles —
even making fire fall from the sky to the earth in
men’s sight.
dAlternate reading: construing these words with slain or with recorded.
REVELATION 14 963
14 And because of the signs (miracles) which he
is allowed to perform in the presence of the [first] beast,
he deceives those who inhabit the earth, commanding
them to erect a statue (an image) in the likeness of the
beast which was wounded by the (small) sword and still
lived. [Deut. 13:1-5.]
15 And he was permitted [also] to impart the breath
of life into the beast’s image so that the statue of the beast
could actually talk, and to cause to be put to death those
who would not bow down and worship the image of the
beast. [Dan. 3:5.]
16 Also he compels all [alike], both small and great,
both the rich and the poor, both free and slave to be
marked with an inscription (*stamped) on their right
hands or on their foreheads.
17 So that no one will have power to buy or sell
unless he bears the stamp (mark, inscription), [that is,]
the name of the beast or the number of his name.
18 Ulere is [room for} discernment —a call for the
wisdom [of interpretation]; let any one who has intel-
ligence Cpenetration and insight enough) calculate the
number of the beast, for it is a human number — the
number of a certain man; his number is six hundred
and sixty-six.
CHAPTER 14
HEN I looked and lo, the Lamb stood on Mount
Zion, and with Him a hundred and forty-four
thousand [men] who had His name and His Father’s
name inscribed on their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of
bThayer.
964 REVELATION 14
great waters and like the rumbling of mighty thunder;
the voice I heard [seemed like the music] of harpists ®ac-
companying themselves on their harps.
3. And they sing a new song before the throne [of
God] and before the four living creatures and before the
elders [of 'the heavenly Sanhedrin]. No one could learn
[to sing] that song except the hundred and forty-four
thousand who had been ransomed (purchased, re-
deemed) from the earth.
4 These are they who have not defiled themselves by
relations with women, for they are [*pure as] virgins.
These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
These are they who have been ransomed (purchased, re-
deemed.) from among men as the first fruits for God and
the Lamb.
5 No lie was found to be upon their lips, for
they are blameless — spotless, untainted, without blemish
before the throne of God.
6 Then I saw another angel flying in mid-air, with
an eternal Gospel (good news) to tell to the inhabitants
of the earth, to every race and tribe and language and
people.
7 And he cried with a mighty voice, Revere God and
give Him glory (honor and praise in worship), for the
hour of His judgment has arrived. Fall down before Him;
pay Him homage and adoration and worship Him Who
created heaven and earth, the sea and the springs (foun-
tains) of water.
8 Then another angel, a second, followed, declar-
*Vincent. bSouter, and others. ¢Williams.
REVELATION 14 965
ing, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She who made all
nations drink of the [maddening] wine of her passionate
unchastity [idolatry]. [Is. 21:9.]
9 Then another angel, a third, followed them, saying
with a mighty voice, Whoever pays homage to the beast
and his statue and permits the [beast’s] stamp (mark, in-
scription) to be put on his forehead or on his hand,
10 He too shall [have to] drink of the wine of God’s
indignation and wrath, poured undiluted into the cup of
His anger, and he shall be tormented with fire and
brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the
presence of the Lamb. [Jer. 51:7; Gen. 19:24.]
11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever
and ever, and they have no respite — no pause, no in-
termission, no rest, no peace — day or night, these who
pay homage to the beast and to his image, and whoever
receives the stamp of his name upon him. [[5. 34:10.]
12 Here [comes in a call for] the steadfastness of
the saints — the patience, the endurance of the people of
God — those who (habitually) keep God’s commandments
and [their] faith in Jesus.
13 Then I heard further, [™perceiving the distinct
words of | a voice from heaven saying, Write this: Blessed
— happy, "to be envied — are the dead from now on who
die in the Lord! Yes, blessed — happy, "to be envied in-
deed — says the Spirit, [in] that they may rest from their
labors, for their works (deeds) do follow (attend, ac-
company) them!
14 Again IJ looked, and lo, [I saw] a white cloud, and
m Thayer. © Souter,
966 REVELATION 14
sitting on the cloud °One resembling a °Son of man,
with a crown of gold on His head, and a sharp scythe
(sickle) in His hand. [Dan. 7:13.]
15 And another angel came out of the temple sanctu-
ary, calling with a mighty voice to ‘(Him Who was sitting
upon the cloud, Put in Your scythe and reap, for the
hour has arrived to gather the harvest, for the earth’s
crop is fully ripened. [Joel 3:13.]
16 So °He Who was sitting upon the cloud swung
His scythe (sickle) on the earth and the earth’s crop
was harvested.
17 ‘Then another angel came out of the temple
sanctuary in heaven, and he also carried a sharp scythe
(sickle).
18 And another angel came forth from the altar,
[the angel] who has authority and power over fire, and
he called with a loud cry to him who had the sharp
scythe (sickle), Put forth your scythe and reap the
fruitage of the vine of the earth, for its grapes are en-
tirely ripe.
19 So the angel swung his scythe on the earth
and stripped the grapes and gathered the vintage from
the vines of the earth, and cast it into the huge wine
press of God's indignation and wrath.
20 And [the grapes in] the wine press were trodden
outside the city, and blood poured from the wine press,
[reaching] as high as horses’ bridles, for a distance of
one thousand and six hundred stadia [about two hun-
dred miles]. [Joel. 3:13.]
°Capitals suppositional. Many question whether this refers to Christ.
REVELATION 15 967
CHAPTER 15
HEN I saw another wonder (sign, token, symbol)
in heaven, great and marvelous [warning of events
of ominous significance]. There were seven angels bring-
ing seven plagues (afflictions, calamities), which are the
last, for with them God’s wrath Cindignation) is com-
pletely expressed — reaches its climax and is ended.
[Lev. 26:21.]
2 Then I saw what seemed to be a glassy sea blended
with fire, and those who had come off victorious from
the beast, and from his statue and from the number cor-
responding to his name, were standing beside the glassy
sea with harps of God in their hands.
3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of
God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Mighty and
marvelous are Your works, O Lord God the Omnipotent!
Righteous (just) and true are Your ways, O Sovereign of
the ages — King of the nations! [Ex. 15:1; Ps. 145:17.]
4 Who shall not reverence and glorify Your name,
O Lord — giving You honor and praise in worship? For
You only are holy. All the nations shall come and pay
homage and adoration to You, for Your just judgments
— Your righteous sentences and decds — have been made
known and displayed. [Jer. 10:7; Ps. 86:9, 10.]
5 After this I looked and the sanctuary of the tent
of the testimony in heaven was thrown open
6 And there came out of the temple sanctuary the
seven angels bringing the seven plagues Cafllictions,
calamities). They were arrayed in pure gleaming linen,
and around their breasts they wore girdles of gold.
Ε Many authorities read ‘‘nations.”
968 REVELATION 16
7 And one of the four living creatures [then] gave
the seven angels seven bowls of gold full of the wrath
and indignation of God Who lives forever and ever —in
the eternities of the eternities.
8 And the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the
glory (the radiance, the splendor) of God and from His
might and power, and no one was able to go into the
sanctuary until the seven plagues (afflictions, calamities)
of the seven angels were ended. [I Kin. 8:10; Is. 6:4;
Ezek. 44:4.]
CHAPTER 16
HEN I heard a mighty voice from the temple
sanctuary saying to the seven angels, Go and empty
out on the earth the seven bowls of God’s wrath and
indignation. [Is. 66:6; Ps. 69:24.]
2 So the first [angel] went and emptied his bowl on
the earth, and foul and painful ulcers (sores) came on
the people who were marked with the stamp of the
beast and who did homage to his image. [Ex. 9:10, 11;
Deut. 28:35.]
3. The second angel emptied his bowl! into the sea,
and it turned into blood like that of a corpse [thick,
corrupt, ill-smelling and disgusting], and every living
thing that was in the sea perished.
4 Then the third angel emptied out his bowl into
the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into
Cbecame) blood. [Ex. 7:17-21.]
5 And I also heard the angel of the waters say,
Righteous (just) are You in these Your decisions and
judgments, You Who are and were, O Holy One!
REVELATION 16 969
6 Because they have poured out the blood of (the
saints) Your people and the prophets, and You have
given them blood to drink. Such is their due — they
deserve it! [Ps. 79:3.]
7 And [from] the altar I heard [the] cry, Yes, Lord
God the Omnipotent, Your judgments (sentences, de-
cisions) are true and just and righteous! [Ps. 119:137.]
8 Then the fourth angel emptied out his bowl upon
the sun, and it was permitted to burn (scorch) humanity
with [fierce, glowing] heat (fire).
9 People were severely burned (scorched) by the
fiery heat, and they reviled and blasphemed the name
of God Who has control of these plagues, and they did
not repent of their sins — felt no regret, contrition and
compunction for their waywardness, refusing to amend
their ways —to give Him glory.
10 Then the fifth angel emptied his bowl on the
throne of the beast, and his kingdom was [plunged] in
darkness, and people gnawed their tongues for the tor-
ment — of their excruciating distress and severe pain —
[Ex. 10:21.]
11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of
their anguish and their ulcers (sores), and they did not
deplore their wicked deeds or repent — for what they had
done.
12 Then the sixth angel emptied his bow! on the
mighty river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to
make ready a road for [the coming of] the kings of the
east (from the rising sun). [Is. 11:15, 16.]
13 And I saw three loathsome spirits like frogs, [leap-
ing] from the mouth of the dragon and from the mouth
970 REVELATION 16
of the beast and from the mouth of the false prophet.
(I Kin, 22:21-23; Ex. 8:3.]
14 For really they are the spirits of demons that
perform signs (wonders, miracles). And they go forth to
the rulers and leaders all over the world, to gather them
together for war on the great day of God the Almighty.
15 Lo, I am going to come like a thief! Blessed —
happy, *to be envied — is he who stays awake (alert) and
who guards his clothes so that he may not be naked and
[have the shame of being] seen exposed!
16 And they gathered them together at the place
which in Hebrew is called Armageddon. [II Kin. 9:27.]
17 Then the seventh angel emptied out his bowl
into the air, and a mighty voice came out of the sanctu-
ary of heaven from the throne [of God], saying, It is
done! Cit is all over, it is all accomplished, it has come!)
[Is. 66:6.]
18 And there followed lightning flashes, loud rumb-
lings, peals of thunder, and a tremendous earthquake;
nothing like it has ever occurred since men dwelt on the
earth, so severe and far reaching was that earthquake.
[Ex. 19:16; Dan. 12:1.]
19 ‘The mighty city was broken into three parts, and
the cities of the nations fell. And God kept in mind
mighty Babylon, to make her drain the cup of His furious
wrath and indignation.
20 And every island fled and no mountains could
be found.
21 And great — excessively oppressive — hailstones, as
heavy as a talent [between fifty and sixty pounds], of
«Souter.
REVELATION 17 971
immense size, fell from the sky on the people, and
men blasphemed God for the plague of the hail, so very
great was [the torture] of that plague. [Ex. 9:23.]
CHAPTER 17
ΟΕ of the seven angels who had the seven bowls
then came and spoke to me, saying, Come with
me! 1 will show you the doom (sentence, judgment)
of the great harlot [idolatress] who is seated on many
waters, [Jer. 51:13.]
2 [She] with whom the rulers of the earth have
joined in prostitution [idolatry], and with the wine of
whose immorality [idolatry] the inhabitants of the earth
have become intoxicated. [Jer. 25:15, 16.]
3 And [the angel] bore me away [rapt] in the Spirit
into a desert (wilderness), and I saw a woman seated on
a scarlet beast that was all covered with blasphemous
titles (names), and he had seven heads and ten horns.
4 ‘The woman was robed in purple and scarlet, and
bedecked with gold, precious stones and pearls, [and she
was] holding in her hand a cup of gold full of the ac-
cursed offenses and the filth of her lewdness and vice.
[Jer. 51:7.]
5 And on her forehead there was inscribed a name
of mystery — with a secret symbolic meaning: Babylon
the great, the mother of prostitutes [idolatresses] and of
the filth and atrocities and abominations of the earth.
6 [also saw that the woman was drunk, [drunk] with
the blood of the saints CGod’s people), and the blood of
the martyrs [who witnessed] for Jesus. And when 1 saw
her I was utterly amazed and wondered greatly.
972 REVELATION 17
7 But the angel said to me, Why do you wonder? 1
will explain to you the [secret symbolic meaning of the]
mystery of the woman, as well as of the beast having
the seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
8 The beast that you saw [once] was, but [now] is
no more, and he is going to come up out of the abyss (the
bottomless pit.) and proceed to go to perdition; and the
inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been
recorded in the Book of Life from the foundation of the
world, will be astonished when they look at the beast,
because he [once] was, but [now] is no more, and he is
[yet] to come. [Dan. 7:3.]
9 This calls for a mind [to consider that is packed]
with wisdom and intelligence — it is something for a par-
ticular mode of thinking and judging of thoughts, feel-
ings and purposes. The seven heads are seven hills upon
which the woman is sitting;
10 And they are also seven kings, fve of whom have
fallen, one still exists — and is reigning; the other [the
seventh] has not yet appeared, and when he does arrive
he must stay [but] a brief time.
11 And as for the beast that [once] was, but now is
no more, he [himself] is an eighth ruler (king, head),
but he is of the seven and belongs to them, and he goes
to perdition.
12 Also the ten horns that you observed are ten
rulers (kings) who have as yet received no royal do-
minion, but together they are to receive power and
authority as rulers for a single hour, along with the
beast. [Dan. 7:20-24.]
REVELATION 18 973
13 These have one common policy Copinion, purpose),
and they deliver their power and authority to the beast.
14 They will wage war against the Lamb, and the
Lamb will triumph over them; for He is Lord of lords
and King of kings, and those with Him and on His side
are chosen and called [elected] and loyal and faithful fol-
lowers. [Dan. 2:47.]
15 And [the angel further] said to me, The waters
that you observed, where the harlot is seated, are races
and multitudes and nations and dialects (languages).
16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the
beast will [be the very ones to] hate the harlot [the
idolatrous woman]; they will make her cheerless Cbe-
reaved, desolate) and they will strip her, and eat up her
flesh and utterly consume her with fre.
17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out
His own purpose by acting in harmony in surrendering
their royal power and authority to the beast, until the
prophetic words — intentions and promises-— of God
shall be fulfilled.
18 And the woman that you saw is herself the great
city which dominates and controls the rulers and the
leaders of the earth.
CHAPTER 18
HEN I saw another angel descending from heaven,
possessing great authority, and the earth was illumi-
nated with his radiance and splendor.
2 And he shouted with a mighty voice, She is
fallen! Mighty Babylon is fallen! She has become a resort
and dwelling place for demons, a dungeon haunted by
974 REVELATION 18
every loathsome spirit, an abode for every filthy and de-
testable bird;
3 Because all nations have drunk the wine of her
passionate unchastity, and the rulers and leaders of the
earth have joined with her in committing fornication
[idolatry], and the businessmen of the earth have be-
come rich with the wealth of her excessive luxury and
wantonness. [Jer. 25:15, 27.]
4 1 then heard another voice from heaven saying,
Come out from her, my people, so that you may not
share in her sins, neither participate in her plagues.
[Is. 48:20; Jer. 50:8.]
5 For her iniquities— her crimes and transgressions
— are piled up as high as heaven, and God has remem-
bered her wickedness and [her] crimes — and calls them
up for settlement. [Jer. 51:9.]
6 Repay to her what she herself has paid [to others]
and double [her doom] in accordance with what she has
done. Mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed
[for others]. [Ps. 137:8.]
7 To the degree that she glorified herself and reveled
in her wantonness — living deliciously and luxuriously
—to that measure impose on her torment and anguish
and tears and mourning. Since in her heart she boasts,
I am not a widow; as a queen fon a throne] I sit, and I
shall never see suffering or experience sorrow, _ [[5.
47:8, 9.]
8 So shall her plagues (afflictions, calamities) come
thick upon her in a single day, pestilence and anguish
and sorrow and famine, and she shall be utterly con-
REVELATION 18 975
sumed — burned up with frre; for mighty is the Lord God
Who judges her.
9 And the rulers and leaders of the earth, who
joined her in her immorality [idolatry] and luxuriated
with her, will weep and beat their breasts and lament
over her when they see the smoke of her conflagration.
[Ezek. 26:16, 17.]
10 They will stand a long way off, in terror of her
torment, and they will cry, Woe and alas! the great city!
the mighty city, Babylon! In one single hour how your
doom (judgment) has overtaken you!
11 And earth’s businessmen weep and grieve over
her, because no one buys their freight (cargo) any more.
[Ezek. 27:36.]
12 Their merchandise is of gold, silver, precious
stones and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet
[stuffs]; all kinds of scented wood, all sorts of articles
of ivory, all varieties of objects of costly woods, bronze,
iron and marble; [Ezek. 27:12, 13, 22.]
13 Of cinnamon, spices, incense, ointment and per-
furne, and frankincense; of wine and olive oil, fine flour
and wheat; of cattle and sheep, horses and conveyances;
and of slaves, [that is] the bodies, and souls of men!
14 The ripe fruits and delicacies for which your soul
longed have gone from you, and all your luxuries and
dainties, your elegance and splendor are lost to you,
never again to be recovered or experienced!
15 The dealers who handled these articles, who grew
wealthy through their business with her, will stand a
long way off, in terror of her doom and torment, weeping
and grieving aloud, and saying,
976 REVELATION 18
16 Alas, alas for the great city that was robed in fine
linen, in purple and scarlet, bedecked and glittering with
gold, with precious stones, and with pearls! [Ezek. 27:36,
31.)
17 Because in one [single] hour all the vast wealth
has been destroyed — wiped out. And all ship captains
and pilots, navigators and all who live by seafaring, the
crews and all who ply their trade on the sea, stood a long
way off, [Is. 23:14; Ezek. 27:26-30.]
18 And exclaimed as they watched the smoke of her
burning, What city could be compared to the great city!
19 And they threw dust on their heads, as they wept
and grieved, exclaiming, Woe and alas, for the great city
where all who had ships on the sea grew rich [through
her extravagance] from her great wealth! In one single
hour she has been destroyed and has become a desert!
[Ezek. 27:30-34.]
20 Rejoice (celebrate) over her, O heaven! O saints
Cpeople of God) and apostles and prophets, because
God has executed vengeance for you upon her! [Is.
44:23; Jer. 51:48.)
21 Then a single powerful angel took up a boulder
like a great millstone and flung it into the sea, crying,
With such violence shall Babylon the great city be hurled
down to destruction and shall never again be found.
[Jer. 51:63, 64; Ezek. 26:21.]
22 And the sound of harpists and minstrels and flute
players and trumpeters shall never again be heard in
you, and no skilled artisan of any craft shall ever again
be found in you, and the sound of the millstone shall
never again be heard in you. [Is. 24:8; Ezek. 26:13.]
REVELATION 19 977
23 And never again shall the light of a lamp shine
in you, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall never
be heard in you again; for your businessmen were the
great and prominent men of the earth, and by your
magic spells and poisonous charm all nations were led
astray — seduced and deluded.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and
of saints, and of all those who have been slain (slaughter-
ed) on earth. ([Jer. 51:49.]
CHAPTER 19
FTER this I heard what sounded like a mighty
shout of a great crowd in heaven, exclaiming,
Hallelujah — praise the Lord! Salvation and_ glory
Csplendor and majesty) and power Cdominion and
authority [belong]) to our God!
2 Because His judgments — His condemnation and
punishment, His sentences of doom — are true and sound
just and upright. He has judged —convicted, pro-
nounced sentence and doomed the great and notorious
harlot [idolatress] who corrupted and demoralized and
poisoned the carth with her lewdness and adultery
[idolatry]. And He has avenged — visited on her the
penalty for — the blood of His servants. [Deut. 32:43.]
3 And again they shouted, Hallelujah — praise the
Lord! The smoke of her [burning] shall continue to
ascend forever and ever — through the eternities of the
eternities. [Is. 34:10.]
4 Then the twenty-four elders [of *the heavenly San-
hedrin] and the four living creatures fell prostrate and
*Berry, and others.
978 REVELATION 19
worshipped (paying divine honors to) God Who sits on
the throne, saying, Amen! Hallelujah — praise the Lord!
5 Then from the throne there came a voice saying,
Praise our God, all you servants of His, you who rever-
ence Him, both small and great! [Ps. 115:13.]
6 After that 1 heard what sounded like the shout
of a vast throng, like the boom of many pounding waves
and like the roar of terrific and mighty thunderpeals,
exclaiming, Hallelujah — praise the Lord! For now the
Lord our God the Omnipotent — the All-Ruler — reigns!
7 Let us rejoice —and shout for joy — exulting and
triumphant! Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory
and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has
come and His bride has prepared herself. [Ps. 118:24.]
8 She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant)
linen — dazzling and white, for the fine linen is (signifies,
represents) the righteousness—the upright, just and
godly living [deeds, conduct] and right standing with
God — of the saints (God’s holy people).
9 Then [the angel] said to me, Write this down:
Blessed — happy, *to be envied — are those who are sum-
moned Cinvited, called) to the marriage supper of the
Lamb. And he said to me [further], These are the true
words — the genuine and exact declarations — of God.
10 Then I fell prostrate at his feet to worship — to
pay divine honors — to him, but he [restrained me] and
said, Refrain! — You must not do that! I am [only] an-
other servant with you and your brethren who have
[accepted and hold] the testimony borne by Jesus.
Worship God! For the substance Cessence) of the truth
*Souter.
REVELATION 19 979
revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy — the vital
breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and in-
terpretation of the divine will and purpose [including
both mine and yours].
11 After that I saw heaven opened, and behold, a
white horse [appeared]! The One Who was riding it is
called Faithful Ctrustworthy, loyal, incorruptible, steady)
and True, and He passes judgment and wages war
in righteousness — holiness, justice and uprightness.
[Ezek. 1:1.]
12 His eyes [blaze] like a fame of frre, and on His
head are many kingly crowns (diadems); and He has a
title (name) inscribed which He alone knows or can
understand. [Dan. 10:6.]
13 He is dressed in a robe dyed by dipping in blood,
and the title by which He is called is The Word of God.
14 And the troops of heaven, clothed in fine linen,
dazzling and clean, followed Him on white horses.
15 From His mouth goes forth a sharp sword with
which He can smite (afflict, strike) the nations, and He
will shepherd and control them with a staff (scepter,
rod) of iron. He will tread the wine press of the fierce-
ness of the wrath and indignation of God the All-Ruler
—the Almighty, the Omnipotent. [Ps. 2:9.]
16 And on His garment (robe) and on His thigh He
has a name (title) inscribed, King of kings and Lord
of lords. [Deut. 10:17; Dan. 2:47.]
17 Then I saw a single angel stationed in the sun’s
blight, and with a mighty voice he shouted to all the
Ε Some ancient authorities read “sprinkled with blood.”
6 Thayer, Berry, etc.
980 REVELATION 20
birds that fly across the sky, Come, gather yourselves
together for the great supper of God, [ Ezek. 39:4, 17-20.}
18 That you may feast on the flesh of rulers, the
flesh of generals and captains, the flesh of powerful and
mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the
flesh of all humanity, both free and slave, both small
and great!
19 Then I saw the beast and the rulers and leaders
of the earth with their troops mustered to go into battle
and make war against Him Who is mounted on the horse
and against His troops.
20 And the beast was seized and overpowered, and
with him the false prophet who in his presence had
worked wonders and performed miracles by which he
led astray those who had accepted or permitted to be
placed upon them the stamp (mark) of the beast, and
those who paid homage and gave divine honors to his
statue. Both of the two were hurled alive into the fiery
lake that burns and blazes with brimstone.
21 And the rest were killed with the sword that
issues from the mouth of Him Who is mounted on the
horse, and all the birds fed ravenously and glutted them-
selves with their Hesh.
CHAPTER 20
HEWN I saw an angel descending from heaven; he
was holding the key of the abyss — the bottomless
pit — and a great chain was in his hand.
2 And he gripped and overpowered the dragon, that
old serpent of primeval times, who is the devil and
Satan, and [securely] bound him for a thousand years.
REVELATION 20 981
3 Then he hurled him into the abyss — the bottom-
Jess pit — and closed it and sealed it above him, so that
he should no longer lead astray and deceive and seduce
the nations until the thousand years were at an end.
After that he must be liberated for a short time.
4 Then I saw thrones, and sitting on them were
those to whom authority to act as judges and pass sentence
was entrusted. Also I saw the souls of those who had
been slain with axes (beheaded) for their witnessing to
Jesus and [for preaching and testifying] for the Word of
God, and who had refused to pay homage to the beast
or his statue and had not accepted his mark or permitted
it to be stamped on their foreheads or on their hands.
And they lived again, and ruled with Christ, the
Messiah, a thousand years. [Dan. 7:9, 22, 27.]
5 The remainder of the dead were not restored to
life again until the thousand years were completed. This
is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed Chappy, "to be envied.) and holy — spiritu-
ally whole, of unimpaired innocence and proved virtue
— is the person who takes part (shares) in the first resur-
rection! Over them the second death exerts no power or
authority, but they shall be ministers of God and of
Christ, the Messiah, and they shall rule along with Him
a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are completed, Satan
will be released from his place of confinement,
8 And he will go forth to deceive and seduce and
lead astray the nations which are in the four quarters
of the earth, that is, Gog and Magog, to muster them for
*Souter.
982 REVELATION 20
war; their number is as the sand of the sea. [Ezek.
38:2, 9, 15, 22.]
9 And they swarmed up over the broad plain of
the earth and encircled the fortress (camp) of God’s.
people (the saints) and the beloved city; but fire de-
scended from heaven and consumed them. [1] Kin.
1:10-12; Ezek. 38:2, 22.]
10 Then the devil who had led them astray —de-
ceiving and seducing them — was hurled into the fiery
lake of burning brimstone where the beast and false
prophet were; and they will be tormented day and night
forever and ever —through the ages of the ages.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and the One
Who was seated upon it, from Whose presence and from
the sight of Whose face earth and sky fled away and no
place was found for them.
12 I [also] saw the dead, great and small; they stood
before the throne, and books were opened. Then another
book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life. And the
dead were judged (sentenced) by what they had done
[their whole way of feeling and acting, their aims and
endeavors] in accordance with what was recorded in the
books.
13 And the sea delivered up the dead who were in
it, Death and Hades [*the state of death or disembodied
existence] surrendered the dead in them; and all were
tried and their cases determined by what they had done
— according to their motives, aims and works.
14 Then death and Hades [the state of death or
Thayer.
@The International Bible Encyclopedia.”
REVELATION 21 983
disembodied existence] were thrown into the lake of
fire. This is the second death, the lake of fre.
15 And if anyone’s [name] was not found recorded
in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire.
CHAPTER 21
HEN I saw a new ‘sky Cheaven) and a new earth;
for the former ‘sky and the former earth had passed
away (vanished), and there no longer existed any sea.
[Is. 65:17; 66:22.]
2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, de-
scending out of heaven from God, all arrayed like a bride
beautified and adorned for her husband;
35 Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and
I perceived its distinct words, saying, See! The abode of
God is with men, and He will live Cencamp, tent) among
them, and they shall be His people and God shall pcr-
sonally be with them and be their God. [Ezek. 37:27.]
4 God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and
death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish —
sorrow and mourning — nor grief nor pain any more; for
the old conditions and the former order of things have
passed away. [Is. 25:8; 35:10.]
5 And He Who is seated on the throne said, See!
I make all things new. Also He said, Record this, for
these sayings are faithful — accurate, incorruptible and
trustworthy — and true (genuine). [Is. 43:19.]
6 And He [further] said to me, It is done! I am the
Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To
κ᾿ Thayer.
984 REVELATION 21
the thirsty I [Myself] will give water without price from
the fountain (springs) of the water of Life. [Is. 55:1.]
7 He who is victorious shall inherit all these things,
and 1 will be God to him and he shall be My son.
8 But as for the cowards and the ignoble and the con-
temptible and the cravenly lacking in courage and the
cowardly submissive; and as for the unbelieving and
faithless; and as for the depraved and defiled with abomi-
nations; and as for murderers and the lewd and adulter-
ous and the practisers of magic arts and the idolaters
[those who give supreme devotion to anyone or anything
other than God] and all liars [those who knowingly con-
vey untruth by word or deed, all of these shall have]
their part in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone.
This is the second death. [Is. 30:33.]
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven
bowls filled with the seven final plagues (afflictions,
calamities) came and spoke to me. He said, Come with
me! I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
10 ‘Then in the Spirit He conveyed me away to a
vast and lofty mountain, and exhibited to me the holy
Challowed, consecrated) city of Jerusalem descending
out of heaven from God, [Ezek. 40:2.]
11 Clothed in God’s glory —in all its splendor and
radiance. The luster of it resembled a rare and most
precious jewel, like jasper, shining clear as crystal.
12 It had a massive and high wall with twelve [large]
gates, and at the gates [there were stationed] twelve
angels, and [on the gates] the names of the twelve tribes
of the sons of Israel were written; [Ezek. 48:30-35;
Ex. 28:21.]
REVELATION 21 985
13 On the east side three gates, on the north side
three gates, on the south side three gates, and on the west
side three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation
[stones], and on them the twelve names of the twelve
apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he who spoke to me had a golden measuring
reed (rod) to measure the city and its gates and its wall.
{Ezek. 40:5.]
16 The city lies in a square, its length being the same
as its width. And he measured the city with his reed,
twelve thousand stadia [about fifteen hundred miles];
its length and width and height are the same.
17 He measured its wall also, one hundred and forty-
four cubits Cabout seventy-two yards) by a man’s measure
[of a cubit from his elbow to his third finger tip] which
is [the measure] of the angel.
18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city [itself
was of] pure gold, clear and transparent like glass.
19 The foundation [stones] of the wall of the city
were ornamented with all of the precious stones. The
first foundation [stone] was jasper, the second sapphire,
the third chalcedony Cor white agate), the fourth
emerald, [Is. 54:11, 12.]
20 The fifth onyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh
chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth
chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each
separate gate being built of one solid pearl. And the main
*Clarke’s Commentary.
986 REVELATION 22
street (the broadway) of the city was of gold as pure and
translucent as glass.
22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God!
Omnipotent [Himself] and the Lamb [Himself] are 115.
temple.
23 And the city has no need of the sun nor of the
moon to give light to it, for the splendor and radiance
Cglory) of God illuminate it, and the Lamb is its lamp.
[Is. 24:23; 60:1, 19.]
24 ‘The nations shall walk by its light and the rulers
and leaders of the earth shall bring into it their glory.
25 And its gates shall never be closed by day, and
there shall be no night there. [Is. 60:11.]
26 They shall bring the glory —the splendor and.
majesty — and the honor of the nations into it.
27 But nothing that defiles or profanes or is *unwash-
ed shall ever enter it, nor any one who commits abomina-
tions — that is, unclean, detestable, morally repugnant
things — or practises falsehood, but only those whose
names are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
CHAPTER 22
HEN he showed me the river whose waters give
life, sparkling like crystal, flowing out from the
throne of God and of the Lamb
2 Through the middle of the broad way of the city;
also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its
twelve varieties of fruit, yielding each month its fresh
crop; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing and
the restoration of the nations. [Gen. 2:9.]
4Souter,
REVELATION 22 987
3 There shall no longer exist there anything that is
accursed — detestable, foul, offensive, impure, hateful or
horrible. But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall
be in it, and His servants shall worship Him — pay divine
honors to Him and do Him holy service. [Zech. 14:21.]
4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be
on their foreheads. [Ps. 17:15.]
5 And there shall be no more night; they have no
need for lamplight or sunlight, for the Lord God will
illuminate them avd be their light, and they shall reign
(45 kings) forever and ever — through the eternities of
the eternities.
6 And he [of the seven angels further] said to me,
These statements are reliable — worthy of confidence —
and genuine (true). And the Lord, the God of the spirits
of the prophets, has sent His messenger Cangel)) to make
known and exhibit to His servants what must soon come
to pass.
7 And behold, 1 am coming speedily. Blessed Chappy
and *to be envied) is he who observes and lays to heart
and keeps the truths of the prophecy — the predictions,
consolations and warnings — contained in this little book.
8 And I John am he who heard and witnessed these
things. And when 1 heard and saw them, 1 fell prostrate
before the feet of the messenger (angel) who showed
them to me, to worship him.
9 But he said to me, Refrain! — You must not do that!
I am [only] a fellow servant along with yourself and of
your brethren the prophets, and of those who are mind-
ful and practise [the truths contained in] the messages
of this book. Worship God!
«Souter.
988 REVELATION 22
10 And he [further] told me, Do not seal up the
words of the prophecy of this book and make no secret
of them; for the time "when things are brought to a:
crisis and the period of their fulfillment is near.
11 He who is unrighteous Cunjust, wicked) let him:
be unrighteous still, and he that is filthy (vile, impure)
let him be filthy still, and he that is righteous Cjust,
upright, in right standing with God) let him do right
still, and he who is holy let him be holy still. [Dan.
12:10.]
12 Behold, I am coming soon, and 1 shall bring My
wages and rewards with Me, to repay and render to each
one just what his own actions and his own work merit.
[Is. 40:10; Jer. 17:10.]
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the
Last (the Before all and at the End of all). [Is. 44:6;
48:12.]
14 Blessed Chappy and "to be envied) are those who.
cleanse their garments that they may have the authority |
and right to [approach] the tree of life and to enter in:
through the gates to the city. [Gen. 2:9; 3:22, 24.]
15 [But] without are the dogs and those who practise.
sorceries (magic arts) and impurity (the lewd, adulter-
ers) and the murderers and idolaters and every one who
loves and deals in falsehood — untruth, error, deception,
cheating.
16 I, Jesus, have sent My messenger (angel) to you
to witness and to give you assurance of these things for
the churches (assemblies). J am [both] the Root Cthe
Source) and the Offspring of David, the radiant and
brilliant Morning Star. [Is. 11:1, 10.]
“Thayer. Souter.
REVELATION 22 989
17 The CHoly) Spirit and the bride [the church, the
tue Christians] say, Come! And let him who is listening
jay, Come! And let every one come who is thirsty [who
s painfully conscious of his need *of those things by
which the soul is refreshed, supported and strengthened];
ind whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come
und take and appropriate (drink) the Water of Life
without cost. [Is. 55:1.]
18 I [personally solemnly] warn every one who
istens to the statements of the prophecy [the ®predic-
‘ions and the consolations and admonitions pertaining to
shem] in this book: if any one shall add anything to
them, God will add and lay upon him the plagues — the
afflictions and the calamities— that are recorded and
described in this book.
19 And if any one cancels or takes away from the
statements of the book of this prophecy — these *predic-
tions relating to Christ’s kingdom and its speedy triumph,
together with the consolations and admonitions (warn-
ings) pertaining to them— God will cancel and take
away from him his share in the tree of life and in the
city of holiness Cpure and hallowed) which are described
and promised in this book.
20 He Who gives this warning and affirms and testi-
fies to these things, says, Yes — it is true. [Surely] I am
coming quickly — swiftly, speedily. Amen -— so let it be!
Yes, come, Lord Jesus!
21 ‘The grace (blessing and favor) of the Lord Jesus
Christ, the Messiah be »with all the saints — God’s holy
people [#those set apart for God, to be, as it were, exclu-
sively His]. Amen — so let it be!
a’ Thayer. bSome authorities omit either ‘‘all’’ or ‘‘the saints.”
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BIBLIOGRAPHY AND INDEX
OF AUTHORS AND BOOKS QUOTED OR
REFERRED TO IN THE FOOTNOTES
CNore: Efforts have been made to indicate current
editions available wherever possible.)
Abbott-Smith, G. Manual Greek Lexicon of the New
Testament, 1937 CT. & T. Clark).
Alford, Henry The Greek New Testament, with Notes.
5 vols., 1857-61 CRepr.Ed., 2 vols., Moody Press).
American Standard Version (ΑΝ), Holy Bible, 1901
(Nelson).
Aristotle, cited by Thayer, Abbott-Smith, etc.
Barnes, Albert Notes on the New Testament, 12 vols.,
CRepr.Ed., Baker).
Bengel, J. A. Gnomon Novi Testamenti, 1860, cited by
Marvin R. Vincent.
Berkeley Version of the New Testament, 1945
(Zondervan ).
Berry, George Ricker Greek-English New Testament
Lexicon (Zondervan).
Biblical Illustrator, The, 57 vols., C(Repr.Ed., Baker).
Brown, John: various works on the N.T.
Calvin, John, cited by Jamieson, Fausset and Brown.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges.
Chrysostom, John, cited by J. H. Thayer.
Clark, Geo. W., works on Matthew and Acts.
Clarke, Adam Commentary on the Old and New Testa-
ments, 6 vols. CAbingdon).
Cremer, Hermann Biblico-Theological Lexicon of New
Testament Greek, 1895 (Zondervan).
Dana, H. E., and Mantey, J. R. Manual Grammar of
the Greek New Testament, 1927 CMacmillan).
Darby, John N. The New Testament, a New Transla
tion, 1904, CG. Morrish, London).
Davis, John D. Dictionary of the Bible, 1924 CRepr.Ed..
Baker).
Doddridge, Philip, cited by Barnes, Clarke, etc.
Expositor’s Greek Testament, The, 5 vols. (Eerdmans)..
Farrar, Frederick W. The Life and Work of Saint Paul!
2 vols., 1879.
Gray, J. C., and Adams, G. M. Bible Commentary, 5
vols. (Zondervan).
Gurnall, William, cited by Vincent.
Henry, Matthew Commentary on the Old and New
Testaments, 6 vols. (Revell).
Hickie, W. J. Greek-English Lexicon to the New
Testament.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 vols.,
(Eerdmans ).
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary on the
Whole Bible (Zondervan).
Kennedy, Benjamin H. Sources of New Testament
Greek.
Kypke, G. D., cited by Adam Clarke, J. H. Thayer, etc.
Lamsa, George M. Gospel Light from the Aramaic.
Used by permission of A. J. Holman Co.
Lightfoot, Joseph B. Notes on the Epistles of Saint Paul,
1895 CRepr.Ed., Zondervan).
Lightfoot, Joseph B. Saint Paul's Epistle to the Phi-
lippians, 1869 (CRepr.Ed., Zondervan).
Lumby, J. R., in Speaker’s (Cook's) Commentary, 1880.
Luther, Martin, cited by various lexicographers and
commentators.
Macknight, James, cited by Adam Clarke, ete.
Meyer, Heinrich W. H. Commentary on the New
Testament, 11 vols., 1884.
Moulton and Milligan Vocabulary of the Greek Testa-
ment, 1952 CHodder & Stoughton).
Mumtay, John The Sovereignty of God, 1940. Copy-
righted. Used by permission of the publishers,
Zondervan Publishing House.
Pliny, the Younger, cited by Richard C. Trench.
Robertson, A. T. Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Broadman).
Rotherham, Joseph B. The Emphasized Bible, 1902
CRepr.Ed., Kregel).
Schmidt, J. H. Heinrich Synonymik der Griechischen
Sprache, 1886, cited by J. H. Thayer.
Souter, Alexander Pocket Lexicon of the Greek New
Testament, 1916 COxford).
Swete, Henry B., cited by A. T. Robertson, Kenneth S.
Wuest, etc.
Taylor, Jeremy, cited by New Testament commentators.
Thayer, Joseph H. Greek-English Lexicon of the New
Testament—Grimm (American Book Co.).
Trench, Richard C. Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord,
1862 CRevell, Baker).
Trench, Richard C. Studies in the Gospels, 1867.
Trench, Richard C. Synonyms of the New Testament,
1880 CRepr.Ed., Eerdmans).
Tyndale, William Version of the New Testament,
cited by various commentators.
Verkuyl, Gerrit Berkeley Version of the New Testa-
ment, 1945 (Zondervan).
Vincent, Marvin R. Word Studies in the New Testa-
ment, 4 vols., 1846 CRepr.Ed., Eerdmans).
Vulgate Translation of the New Testament (Latin).
Warfeld, Benjamin Biblical Doctrines. Copyrighted!
Used by permission of the publishers, Oxford Uni.
versity Press.
Way, Arthur 5. The Letters of Saint Paul and Hebrews,.
1935. Used by permission of Moody Press.
Webster, Noah Dictionary of the English Language
(Unabridged).
Wesley, John The New Testament (Epworth Press).
Westcott, Brooke F. The Epistles of Saint John, 1883
CRepr.Ed., Eerdmans).
Williams, Charles B. The New Testament in the
Language of the People (Moody Press).
Wuest, Kenneth S. Word Studies in the Greek New
Testament, vols. on Mark, Hebrews, Golden Nug-
gets, Bypaths, Treasures, Untranslatable Riches, and.
In These Last Days. Used by permission of W. B.
Eerdmans Co.
Wycliffe, John Version of the New Testament.
Young, Robert Analytical Concordance, 1903 CFunk &
Wagnalls).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In addition to the above sources, all of the recognized
modern versions of the whole New Testament or parts
of it (some twenty-seven of them in all) that could be
found in the English language, either in America or
abroad, have been continually consulted. From most of
them there has been no occasion to quote, since they
were each taken from much the same sources available
to all. Nevertheless, deep indebtedness to them without
exception is felt for pointing out possibly unnoticed
phases of meaning, and for registering the writers’ prefer-
ences in obscure passages, making it possible for the re-
searchers to get the consensus among the translators on
every passage of the whole New Testament.
Thus each version’s translator made his own contribu-
tion. As Dr. A. T. Robertson used to say to his classes,
“The Greek New Testament has a message for each
mind. Some of the truth in it has never yet been seen
by anyone else. It is like a virgin forest, waiting there
to be explored. ‘Let us go up at once, and possess it’.”
To each of these tireless explorers, the translators, and
to their publishers heartfelt appreciation and thanks are
here expressed, with the hope that the Amplified New
Testament will be of similar value to other adventurers
in this sacred, intriguing and stimulating held.
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
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